Reforms discussed on Chris Hayes All In on MSNBC
Chris Hayes’ program on MSNBC discussing reforming the American electoral system and additional parts of the system so as to avoid the horror of the past four years is informative. A major part of the discussion centred on electoral reform – mainly the Electoral College. Some commentators want to dispense with the system altogether – but is that a real possibilty? Would Republicans support change when it favours them? They have won Presidential Elections with its state by state votes, which in many cases have not reflected the majority vote which has been won by the Democrats.
On the other hand, 2000 was the first for 112 years in which the winning candidate lost the popular vote. Similarly in 2016.
The National Popular Vote Compact was one option canvassed. It raises the possibility that the Electoral college remain, but the way in which state representatives vote in the College is changed. A proposal that has been supported by a vote (over 52%) in Colorado (Proposition 113 on the ballot for President 2020) is that delegates should cast their votes in favour of the person who receives the popular vote.
Would it be easier to focus on reforming gerrymanders that give populous states only the same representation in the Electoral College as less populous states? In Australia this was done – after a great deal of hard work and support from both parties. The changes have not ensured Labor wins, so perhaps the Republicans might be able to encourage democracy in their states without too much fear? A little bit of democracy after the past four years might not go astray in encouraging Americans to believe in their system again. Of course, some of that disbelief is confected so the impact of attempts to restore belief in democracy will be limited however effective campaigns appear.
Another source of debate was the Supreme Court, and speculation that the numbers should be increased – but that terms, instead of being for life should be fixed. The suggestion was 18 years, based on the Senate electoral cycle. The perfidy of the Republican dominated Senate in deferring an Obama nominee in his last year in office, but endorsing Trump’s two last nominees, one with obviously unseemly haste, was argued as a reason for Democrat action on this front.
And then, the most dramatic proposal of all – a Biden Blitz on Day 1. Not in his character? The impressive range of talented and experienced people he has mustered to serve his administration means that a blitz is unnecessary? Mitch McConnell proves less recalcitrant than expected? Democrats win the two Senate seat in the Georgia runoffs?
Let’s wait and see. But, I suggest that Biden and Harris are equal to the challenges and what they decide will be worthy of support.
The ReidOut
Joy Reid Interviews with Rachel Maddow and Joe Scarborough were also interesting Christmas Day watching – Love Actually didn’t seem to be on – with Maddow talking about her book and podcast, Bagman and Scarborough, his book about Harry Truman. Bagman is about Spiro Agnew – some familiar behaviour here.
Christmas in Australia with Covid 19
Christmas in Australia has the Sydney Northern beaches outbreak of Covid 19 looming over festivities, with borders being closed to people from there and the Greater Sydney area. Western Australia, in particular, has taken safety measures against their impressive record at stemming outbreaks by closing the border to New South Wales entirely.
Does one year of a quiet Christmas really matter? Phone calls, zoom and Skype, keeping in touch throughout the year are all options. One wonderful young woman remarked to us as she served us our coffee last week ‘ I love my family, but I don’t want to isolate for two weeks to have Christmas with them this year’. Would that everyone could be as smart and thoughtful for others.
Television comments this week refer to Belgravia and The Queen’s Gambit.
There are no new book reviews, but at the moment I am reading Belgravia by Julian Fellowes; The Medusa Image by Gordon D’ Venables; Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan; and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie. Belgravia is the novel on which the television series is based, and is worth reading, as indeed is the television show worth seeing. The Medusa Image is a first novel, well written, a thriller set in Thailand and Australia. Cruel Summer is an ebook which I am reviewing for Amazon, a vivid story of teenagers, with the intricacies of skateboarding a feature which takes me into new realms. Agatha Christie’s novel is one of her most class based works, and will be used in my discussions of Racism, Sexism and Classism in Agatha Christie.
Robin's Room 