In 1993 New Zealanders voted in a referendum to change their voting system from the traditional first past the post (FPP) method to mixed member proportional representation (MMP). This was the most dramatic change to the country's electoral system since the introduction of women's suffrage exactly 100 years before. How and why did this electoral revolution come about?
The origins of electoral reform lay in the gradual breakdown of public trust and confidence in politicians, Parliament and the simple certainties of the old two-party system. This process began in the 1950s and 1960s and gathered momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, decades marked by economic uncertainty and the emergence of new social and political movements.
Sound familiar? The current support for Trump feels so reminiscent to what NZ was like under Muldoon (who was a lamb compared to Trump but also incited violence and ran on a platform of law and order to quell the very violence he instigated). The experience was bad enough for us to introduce MMP as soon as he lost power.
But it also makes me think of what my American professor said back in the 80's: The Americans generally oscillate between the parties regardless of who is running or what their platform is. It is part of the country's DNA.
This is about the only explanation I can find for Trump still enjoying such high polling numbers.
High time you guys installed some kind of MMP, I reckon. It's no cure-all, but it might help.
I couldn't decide between Toad and Trime Taveler, so I didn't...
I expect the write-ins will be interesting should we make it to November. Hey, I'm joking! I'm quite optimistic, though not about temporal things...
Joe Biden (D), incumbent president of the United States, announced he would run for re-election on April 25, 2023.
Marianne Williamson (D), 2020 presidential candidate and author, announced her candidacy on February 23, 2023. She withdrew from the race on February 7, 2024, and re-entered the race on February 28.
Other Democratic candidates
Jason Palmer (D), a businessman, announced his candidacy on November 10, 2023.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent), withdrew from the Democratic primary and announced he would run as an independent on October 9, 2023.
Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party), a candidate in the 2022 Georgia U.S. Senate race, announced his candidacy on April 4, 2023.
Jill Stein (Green Party), the 2016 Green Party presidential nominee, announced her candidacy on November 9, 2023.
Cornel West (Independent), philosopher and activist, announced his candidacy on June 5, 2023.
I couldn't decide between Toad and Trime Taveler, so I didn't...
I expect the write-ins will be interesting should we make it to November. Hey, I'm joking! I'm quite optimistic, though not about temporal things...
Joe Biden (D), incumbent president of the United States, announced he would run for re-election on April 25, 2023.<32>
Marianne Williamson (D), 2020 presidential candidate and author, announced her candidacy on February 23, 2023.<42> She withdrew from the race on February 7, 2024, and re-entered the race on February 28.<6><4>
Other Democratic candidates
Jason Palmer (D), a businessman, announced his candidacy on November 10, 2023.<48>
It comes down to 6 states...the same 6 as 2020. The question becomes, have the MAGA folks put enough local "leadership" (used very loosely) in place to find 11,861 votes....or eliminate the duplicate dead people voting... etc. If not, we'll have another fixed election. If so, it doesn't matter.
It comes down to 6 states...the same 6 as 2020. The question becomes, have the MAGA folks put enough local "leadership" (used very loosely) in place to find 11,861 votes....or eliminate the duplicate dead people voting... etc. If not, we'll have another fixed election. If so, it doesn't matter.
Current 538 state polls have a narrow Trump win, with GA and AZ being the "flips" from 2020. A long way to go.
Imma thinking of buying one of those fancy new Tulsa cars.
Wait, wait... so union efforts pay off in getting people double digit raises and Biden mispronounces Tesla in the list of companies and you think that's going to make him look bad vs. trumps word salad? Keep pushing the Biden is old /slow/incapable meme if you want, but the rest of that clip is miles away better than anything from trump recently.
*-still not a fan, but still better than a shit sandwich.
Political satire is one of the best ways to bring people 'round to your thinking. Trump practically writes the scripts for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. One of the best ways to beat Trump is to make him look ridiculous and laugh at him. With Trump in obvious mental decline, Stewart and Colbert are gonna have a field day. Getcha popcorn.
Also, Trevor Noah was good but not Jon Stewart good. Now that Noah's gone, the show's in peril. Since Stewart owns a part of it, he's got to do something to salvage his stake in the property.
Political satire is one of the best ways to bring people 'round to your thinking. Trump practically writes the scripts for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. One of the best ways to beat Trump is to make him look ridiculous and laugh at him. With Trump in obvious mental decline, Stewart and Colbert are gonna have a field day. Getcha popcorn.
