I disagree. It opens up the door to other party options. Maybe it takes a couple elections for it to change, but there’s a real chance to elect a third party under that system. Certainly more than our current model.

7

Also voters could get involved earlier in the process (caucuses or primaries) because we’re just leaving it to the fringes now.

9

Absolutely. Normally that’s not the case but here there are a couple ways it can change things upstream. Not to mention the added benefits of people having to campaign more civilly and reach out to people beyond their base.

1

No you’re misunderstanding. I agree caucuses and primaries don’t sow civility as most of them currently operate. Most of the time they’re awful places to be. But I’ve also seen it where candidates band together to be each other’s first and second choice votes. They’re forced to say positive things about one another and not just energize 30% of voters to win.

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Anonymous #5 5w

And when you use ranking in general elections, you give a chance for smaller parties to gain larger portions of the popular vote. That changes future party platforms and gives visibility to other options, thus affecting upstream choices in future elections.

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Anonymous #5 5w

And, I must have missed this, what is the solution you’re proposing?

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Anonymous #3 5w

I hate to break it to you, but this is a fallacious argument. There are good AND bad things that happen with democrats AND republicans Like, it really all just depends on who’s in office. Not every republican president is bad at their job just like not every democrat president is bad at theirs We’ve only ever lived through Bush and Trump as R presidents in our lifetimes and most ppl on this app are still too young to remember Trump’s first term, much less Bush’s

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Anonymous #6 5w

This “Republican bad! Democrat good!” mindset is why we’ll never actually elect someone worthy of being in office. Stop voting based on the letter next to their name. Vote based on their policies and willingness to fight for YOU

9

Anonymous #4 5w

This is also a terrible argument. Are we saying anyone who identifies as republican is just automatically awful and immoral and democrats saints? This is a dangerous mentality that will see the rest of us suffer its consequences bc you elected some shithole democrat candidate (not generalizing all Ds—just the one) bc they’re democrat instead of the independent who actually cares about us and the country

2

Please don’t tell me what I believe. You’re incorrect. The rest of your statement is short-sighted. Still waiting to hear your solution.

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Anonymous #6 5w

That’s exactly my point! Democrat policies: human rights, helping communities, improving wellbeing, democracy! Republican policies: being the most racist posible. Crashing the economy. Fuck working ppl while sucking billionaire 🍆 How is that even a choice?!

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Anonymous #6 5w

Also, I was born in 2000! I do remember Bush presidencies and how much MY own family struggled! And I think a few million deaths and wide spread of a pandemic are pretty noticeable from Trumps first term. Especially my parents having to tell me to keep my idiot friends from drinking bleach!

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Anonymous #6 5w

Strawman argument, I’m saying that if people toward the center and left politically start voting for a wide array of candidates, the more radical right candidates will have a more consolidated voter base. I’m not arguing that republicans as a whole suck or anything, it’s just the Republican Party (specifically those in power) is tending to trend more radical recently and I think splitting up the democratic voter base wouldn’t do much other than give the Republican Party better election odds.

0

Anonymous #3 5w

You’re dumb af

1

Anonymous #3 5w

did you seriously just blame trump for covid? you think he made the illness or something? and in 2020, you would be 20 years old… your friends were having to be told to not drink bleach at 20?

1

Anonymous #3 5w

You are part of the problem.

1

Wow — you are really condescending. Could it be that perhaps a tool makes things we can already do easier to accomplish? I can use something heavy to push a nail down, but hammer makes it much more accessible. No, I’m not deflecting because there’s no evidence. I don’t think it’s worth my effort to convince someone so arrogantly stuck in their viewpoint. Just because a third party hasn’t risen up in one state, doesn’t mean it isn’t possible elsewhere or that it’s even required in Maine.

1

In your suggestion, you say we need a way to put forward independent candidates. Why would any quality candidate run without a viable path to victory? Our current voting structure doesn’t provide one. Ranked choice does. My suggestion is the precursor to yours.

1

Haha how do you not see the relationship? Obviously it’s not a silver bu11et, but it’s an important tool in the bigger process. I’d encourage you to reflect more on HOW we get to the changes you suggest. Sharing ideas on what should happen without methods of implementation or tools to do so is more idealistic than anything I’ve said in this thread. This will be my last message here.

1