What happens when the results come in from the American elections and they show a Trump loss?
What happens when the results come in and it's *close* --- and then the postal ballots tip it in the following week?
It's insane.
People are genuinely afraid that the peaceful transition of power inherent to a functioning democracy won't happen. Both sides think the other is manipulating the system against them or defrauding the system - so *nobody* has confidence in the results of the ballot.
And furthermore, one side has no confidence in the ability of those who are supposed to make that decision independently to actually make that decision independantly. The whole idea of a political judiciary is just bizarre.
The problem is systemic. The system assumes good faith from all actors, rather than requiring it. All the ambiguities in the system are coming home to roost. But more than that, the confidence of the people - of anyone - in the system to give a result that best represents the voting intent of the people is completely gone.
It doesn't matter what side of the wall you fall on - can you honestly say that you can trust the election will be fair? Can you honestly say that - if the opposing side wins - it represents the actual desires of the majority of people, or at the very least, the zeitgeist of the state considering how the US system works.
I've people honestly afraid the whole place will tip over into near civil war. Like actually afraid of real violence. Violence against people, or violence against property.
Something Europe learned the hard way, is that Constitutions can't really depend on the good faith of all actors. That's half the reason Italian politics gets a bit gonzo - their whole system is set up to prevent another Mussolini. The German constitution tries to prevent another Hitler. The British constitution is really just a series of gentleman's agreements and 'the way things have always been done' and look where that's gotten them.
Like, we've had tight elections or referenda before - we've had ones tighter than the Brexit boondoggle next door, but there's never been any question over the system or whether the result reflected the mood or intent of people. Nobody's ever argued that the system was rigged to prevent them from voting, or the other side was packing the ballots or what have you.
How do you turn the US electoral system back into something people have confidence in - because there's only so many times you can have a system producing a result the majority of the country disagrees with before the system comes apart.
Look. Whatever the fuck happens - vote according to your conscience and try to stay safe.
What happens when the results come in and it's *close* --- and then the postal ballots tip it in the following week?
It's insane.
People are genuinely afraid that the peaceful transition of power inherent to a functioning democracy won't happen. Both sides think the other is manipulating the system against them or defrauding the system - so *nobody* has confidence in the results of the ballot.
And furthermore, one side has no confidence in the ability of those who are supposed to make that decision independently to actually make that decision independantly. The whole idea of a political judiciary is just bizarre.
The problem is systemic. The system assumes good faith from all actors, rather than requiring it. All the ambiguities in the system are coming home to roost. But more than that, the confidence of the people - of anyone - in the system to give a result that best represents the voting intent of the people is completely gone.
It doesn't matter what side of the wall you fall on - can you honestly say that you can trust the election will be fair? Can you honestly say that - if the opposing side wins - it represents the actual desires of the majority of people, or at the very least, the zeitgeist of the state considering how the US system works.
I've people honestly afraid the whole place will tip over into near civil war. Like actually afraid of real violence. Violence against people, or violence against property.
Something Europe learned the hard way, is that Constitutions can't really depend on the good faith of all actors. That's half the reason Italian politics gets a bit gonzo - their whole system is set up to prevent another Mussolini. The German constitution tries to prevent another Hitler. The British constitution is really just a series of gentleman's agreements and 'the way things have always been done' and look where that's gotten them.
Like, we've had tight elections or referenda before - we've had ones tighter than the Brexit boondoggle next door, but there's never been any question over the system or whether the result reflected the mood or intent of people. Nobody's ever argued that the system was rigged to prevent them from voting, or the other side was packing the ballots or what have you.
How do you turn the US electoral system back into something people have confidence in - because there's only so many times you can have a system producing a result the majority of the country disagrees with before the system comes apart.
Look. Whatever the fuck happens - vote according to your conscience and try to stay safe.
Oh sweet meteor of death
Fall upon us.
Deliver us in fire
To Peace everlasting.
Fall upon us.
Deliver us in fire
To Peace everlasting.