If you put those proposals to the US populace, you would probably have 90% support. If you put those proposals to the politicans that make the rules, <1% support. So, how does that problem get fixed?
Trump supporters, how do you square this?
- Thread starter CP87
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If you put those proposals to the US populace, you would probably have 90% support. If you put those proposals to the politicans that make the rules, <1% support. So, how does that problem get fixed?
Fryowa
Administrator
As of today, the highest enlisted rank in the US Army is a staff sergeant (E6), and the active duty pay steps max out at 8 years. That salary right now is $51,030 per year and obviously includes housing.
If that's good enough for people getting deployed around the world and being away from family with no choice to still pay their bills, it's good enough for a pampered job with security details, playing dress up to go vote on bills.
Fryowa
Administrator
And his votes while in the state senate were 100% influenced by that lobby.
Fryowa
Administrator
I'll compromise and say 4 years, no second term.
See how easy that was? We didn't even have to pay for TV commercials slinging mud at each other.
I don't think so, in this case. My guess is this is more of an emergent lobby that did not have big influence when he served. Also, it is Iowa State senate, so he is not wielding the kind of power US senators wield. And as a personal acquaintance I know quite well, he seems like the epitome of the kind of person in it for the right reasons. But of course, I am biased.
Now consent to my ranked-choice voting idea, and we have a plan!
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it's a bit of a pipe dream. The other problem is how do you define "lobbyist?" Joe Schmo, who works in some capacity for said industry, could present himself as just some guy who wants to be available to answer questions about a product. A lot of potential gray area there.
At the very least, regulations could be imposed on receiving direct or indirect items of monetary value from lobbyists. It's already been instituted in healthcare. Providers can no longer receive trips, hotel stays, etc., while attending meetings. Representatives aren't even allowed to drop off pens at offices anymore.
Fryowa
Administrator
Still doesn't stop a bag of cash from being dropped off at your sister's mailbox in Tupelo, MS. There's no real way to stop it, but 10 years of public audits and tax returns after leaving would scare off the worst offenders. Odds are if they're sketchy (or desperate) enough to take/need bribe money...let's call it what it is...they're sketchy enough that there's other dealings in their personal lives they don't want public for 10 years.
Fryowa
Administrator
Funny you mention that, I watched an unbelievably good vid on that a few weeks ago.
If you're smart enough to be a college prof you'll appreciate the subject being given such an academic yet entertaining breakdown here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf7ws2DF-zk&t=925s&ab_channel=Veritasium
Ranked voting has a lot of compelling arguments, but also a lot of non-compelling ones. Just like anything in life.
If you watch the whole thing, let me know and I'd be happy to hear and discuss what you think. It's 23 minutes well-spent in my opinion because there's no persuasion attempts being made. I'm an amateur intellectually though so take it easy on me.
You could also put in a clause where you are allowed one more term if you have a 75% approval rating. Obviously the way they determine the approval rating would have to be concrete. But if someone is doing a really good job, it's kinda counter-productive to kick them out. It would also incentivize doing a good job. You would still have to kick them out after another term or it will eventually get abused and corrupted.
I have heard some of the pros and cons, but I am far from an expert. Thanks for sharing the vid, I look forward to giving it a watch when I have some time! As I said before, I am kind of at the point where I think ANYTHING has to be better than what we have. I will give some feedback when I watch the video, I am sure I will learn some things.
Not to be too far off track, but I really think we need restored faith in media for any of this to work. Right now, we have absolutely no way to reach agreement on what is true. That has always been an issue for gray-area stuff, but right now it doesn't seem like we can even agree on what color the sky is. No idea how that problem gets fixed, but I think that underlies a lot of the other problems. If we all had greater agreement on what is true, it would be a lot harder for politicians to divide and conquer us.
Oblong?!
