Subj : Re: Snitch Country
To   : Ward Dossche
From : Dale Shipp
Date : Mon Aug 15 2022 01:24 am

-=> On 08-14-22  10:30,  Ward Dossche <=-
-=> spoke to Alexander Grotewohl about Re: Snitch Country <=-

AG> you'll be surprised to learn the system is specifically set up so the
AG> majority can't just walk all over the minority.
WD>
WD> A democracy where a majority rules without disrespecting
WD> the minority is a good thing.
WD>
WD> But that's not how the system in the USA works, it's "winner takes
WD> all"

I am going to disagree with you on this one.  There are several examples
where the minority is not without power.

To start with, there is the electoral college.  Although I believe it to
be flawed, especially in view of recent efforts in Republican controled
states to over rule the voice of voters in their own state.  BUT, as
originally constructed -- it makes sure that a few very populous states
cannot over rule the more rural states.  This was demonstrated in the
past two presidental elections where the popular vote nationwide had a
large margin for one candidate whereas the electoral college either went
for the other candidate or by a lessor margin to the winner of the
poplular vote.

My other example would be illustrated by the situation in the US Senate.
In most or many cases nothing can be passed in to law without 60% of the
Senate voting yes.  That means that the minority party can effectively
block (i.e. filibuster) any legislation that they do not like.  That
forces the majority party to either not pass legislation or to seek
compromise with the minority party.  There are exceptions to this 60%
rule, mainly having to do with budget bills.  Granted that this is
something caused by the Senate rules, and that could be changed -- but
so far there is reluctance to make such a change.

                              Dale Shipp
                 fido_261_1466 (at) verizon (dot) net
                             (1:261/1466)


... Shipwrecked in Silver Spring, Maryland. 01:39:12, 15 Aug 2022
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