[Marxism] Re: Ted Glick for Proportional Representation

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Most, probably all, proposals for election reform
run into the difficulty that if "we" (the left) had
the power to bring the reforms about,
we wouldn't need the reforms.
—Carrol

This is true of many other demands that we make on capitalist society. 
What is important in formulating demands is that they advance the cause 
of the workers and are perceived to be rational and fair.

I believe that for most people—not just workers—would be in favor of 
any electoral reform that would strengthen the concept of One 
Person-One Vote.

This would apply to getting rid of the so-called Electoral College; 
adopting Instant Runoff Voting; creating a Proportional Representation 
system for the House of Representatives and for state elections that 
would reflect, as much as possible, the opinions of the electorate; 
either eliminating or weakening the Senate or otherwise democratizing 
it. (Right now, the sixteen smallest states with a total population 
equal to California's have 32 senators, while California has, of 
course, 2.)

However, the argument for democratization of the electoral system goes 
well beyond accomplishing some or all of the reforms themselves.

The argument for the reforms is a criticism of the so-called democracy 
of the United States. A campaign for thoroughgoing electoral reform is 
an attack on the legitimacy of the present government itself. Look at 
the following propositions"

(1) If California has 2 senators and the 16 smallest states have 32, 
how can this be considered even a democratic republic?

(2) If a minority of voters can elect the President of the United 
States, then the president does not represent us. Likewise, if national 
parties have to campaign based on winning swing states instead of 
appealing to all of the electorate.

(3) If a common bloc of voters (let's say twenty percent for now) wants 
a single payer health system, a fair minimum wage, a reduction in our 
armament system, immediate withdrawal from Iraq, etc., shouldn't they 
have representatives in our national legislature that reflects their 
view?

Brian Shannon

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