The House has a fixed number of seats: 435, established by the Apportionment Act of 1911. Representatives serve two-year terms, and the 435 seats represent 435 districts. Each state’s population determines the number of seats and districts using a formula: divide the state’s population by the total population, then multiply the result by 435 to get the number of representatives for that state. (Sounds confusing).
The last 10-year census in 2020 had a total population of 331 million. Based on the 10-year census, each seat represents 710,767 people; each representative serves a specific congressional district. For example, California has a population of 39 million, which, when divided by the 2020 census population of 331 million, gives 0.117; multiplied by 435, it produces 51.25, or 52 districts with 52 representatives.
We have a two-party system, democrat and Republican, and representatives are elected by the first-past-the-post, or winner-take-all, method, which means voters for the losing party have no representative in Congress. I don’t review the Senate electing two senators for each state because I think the Senate is a useless, irrational part of our government.
Now to the point I wanted to get to: changing how we decide who will represent us. I know most successful countries in Europe use a different way to determine who represents them in government, and they do not use the winner-take-all system we do. I think that changing the process by which we elect who will represent a district is essential to possibly saving our country from the creeping fungus of oligarchs. But I must add a caveat to what I am suggesting because we may never be able to implement this change as long as we have those who do not want to change our government structure: the Trump die-hards and the billionaires.
If I asked anyone whether they would like an election process where all aspects of our community are represented in our government, I think they would all agree that it would be more democratic and closer to what our founding fathers wanted. These countries use proportional representation, where all qualified political parties can appear on the ballot. People list their choices in order, so more than one party can win seats and, in proportion, have seats in Congress. This would almost eliminate gerrymandering and help control pendulum swings in Congress. Our Congress would reflect our population and would not leave half of our voting public without a voice or a seat. Having our elections for our representatives controlled by proportional representation would be necessary for us to control the erosion of our government generated by our conservative, controlling wealthy 1% of our country.
Yep, the ranked choice method is the best because everyone elected would have some level of support by the majority. However, those that would tend to lose hate it because they could no longer use tribal politics and a low plurality to win their positions in the elections.
Thanks Tommy, now, I will comment; with these poll numbers for Trump, I don't see the Republicans keeping control of Congress and if Democrats come together, we could also control the US Senate. This will bring much needed stability to the government.
The upcoming election is democracy's last stand against Trump. Democracy is meaningless to him and his sycophantic supporters who know they are committing punishable crimes. Many expect presidential pardons if they are called to account. And they are ramping up the A.I. slop, exploiting its ability to perpetrate more crimes of deception, chaos and violence. The stakes are high.
Love the reference to the Slim Pickens scene from Dr. Strangelove, Tommy! May Trumpstein have the same outcome as Major T.J. "King" Kong did (but make the nuke a dud), unless of course the cheeseburgers kick in first. Either way, we win.
Any number above 0% it’s still too damn high!
Can he get negative ratings? I think he would see it as a winner!
Let’s review our House of Representatives.
The House has a fixed number of seats: 435, established by the Apportionment Act of 1911. Representatives serve two-year terms, and the 435 seats represent 435 districts. Each state’s population determines the number of seats and districts using a formula: divide the state’s population by the total population, then multiply the result by 435 to get the number of representatives for that state. (Sounds confusing).
The last 10-year census in 2020 had a total population of 331 million. Based on the 10-year census, each seat represents 710,767 people; each representative serves a specific congressional district. For example, California has a population of 39 million, which, when divided by the 2020 census population of 331 million, gives 0.117; multiplied by 435, it produces 51.25, or 52 districts with 52 representatives.
We have a two-party system, democrat and Republican, and representatives are elected by the first-past-the-post, or winner-take-all, method, which means voters for the losing party have no representative in Congress. I don’t review the Senate electing two senators for each state because I think the Senate is a useless, irrational part of our government.
Now to the point I wanted to get to: changing how we decide who will represent us. I know most successful countries in Europe use a different way to determine who represents them in government, and they do not use the winner-take-all system we do. I think that changing the process by which we elect who will represent a district is essential to possibly saving our country from the creeping fungus of oligarchs. But I must add a caveat to what I am suggesting because we may never be able to implement this change as long as we have those who do not want to change our government structure: the Trump die-hards and the billionaires.
If I asked anyone whether they would like an election process where all aspects of our community are represented in our government, I think they would all agree that it would be more democratic and closer to what our founding fathers wanted. These countries use proportional representation, where all qualified political parties can appear on the ballot. People list their choices in order, so more than one party can win seats and, in proportion, have seats in Congress. This would almost eliminate gerrymandering and help control pendulum swings in Congress. Our Congress would reflect our population and would not leave half of our voting public without a voice or a seat. Having our elections for our representatives controlled by proportional representation would be necessary for us to control the erosion of our government generated by our conservative, controlling wealthy 1% of our country.
Yep, the ranked choice method is the best because everyone elected would have some level of support by the majority. However, those that would tend to lose hate it because they could no longer use tribal politics and a low plurality to win their positions in the elections.
This is great news! Now lets hope the November polls reflect what we are seeing here.
Thanks Tommy, now, I will comment; with these poll numbers for Trump, I don't see the Republicans keeping control of Congress and if Democrats come together, we could also control the US Senate. This will bring much needed stability to the government.
I guess Trump has gotten tired of winning.
The upcoming election is democracy's last stand against Trump. Democracy is meaningless to him and his sycophantic supporters who know they are committing punishable crimes. Many expect presidential pardons if they are called to account. And they are ramping up the A.I. slop, exploiting its ability to perpetrate more crimes of deception, chaos and violence. The stakes are high.
And the numbers keep falling. Waiting for impact.
But Trump insists these polls are fake news! Why is he reacting so strongly to them if they're fake?
My point: Stay the course, Donnie! Helluva job!
Love the reference to the Slim Pickens scene from Dr. Strangelove, Tommy! May Trumpstein have the same outcome as Major T.J. "King" Kong did (but make the nuke a dud), unless of course the cheeseburgers kick in first. Either way, we win.