Lumberjim for President

[piercehawkeye45]

I've heard that only 10-15% percent of voting age Americans agree with the Libertarian ideals so that could be another reason.

The two party system isn't going anywhere for a while anyways. The only hope is if someone like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich wins in a Republican/Democrat seat when they really aren't one.

[DanaC]

Could someone explain the electoral college thing to me please? I've had it explained before but I can't recall the rationale behind it.

[Clodfobble]

One major reason behind it is it makes corruption more difficult. Say I bribe a voting commissioner in my district and add 100,000 false votes for my guy into the system. Under a straight popular vote, I've added exactly 100,000 votes. Under the electoral college, I have swung exactly one state. Doesn't matter if I add a hundred thousand or a million, I still only get that one state's vote in the electoral college. To really make a difference I would need to bribe voting commissioners in multiple states, which is much harder.

On the other hand, when elections are as close as they've been in recent years, one state is usually all that matters nowadays.

[skysidhe]

United States Electoral College

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...ctoral_College

[DanaC]

I see. I guess ours isn't too disimilar, in that the result goes off how many seats a party wins rather than the number of votes cast overall.

Libertarians are about personal responsibility and freedom, for reasons I cannot fathom many have issues with that concept.

[DanaC]

But do they really change their positions or just their campaign strategy.

Good point. One of the problems with the current political culture (in my country and I suspect in yours also) is that instead of coming to a postion on something and then trying to sell that position, win the argument and secure people's support for your stance, parties and politicians try to work out what people will vote for and base their policy statements on that.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Liars.

[Razzmatazz13]

Bruce reads xkcd? *swoon*

[jinx]

Originally Posted by Razzmatazz13

Bruce reads xkcd? *swoon*

Back o' the line honey, xoB already has an extensive fan club.

[Razzmatazz13]

I'm quite aware jinxy...I can lust from afar...no way I'm competin' against the lovely ladies of the cellar for it anyway.

[xoxoxoBruce]

A one dimensional analysis implies that a person closest to the center is the only good choice.

That's not what is says at all. It says the candidate that tailors his campaign promises closest to the peak of the voter curve will usually win, with two candidates.

@Razzmatazz13. Afar? Again? Why is it always from afar? sigh