Grumpiness in New, Seasonal Flavours

[Miyabi]

While we're on that kick, we should do away with the electoral college.  I mean seriously ineffective and dumb.

[Inquisitor]

And to take that even further, let's do away with representative democracy. Regular democracy works just fine thanks.

[The Jade Knight]

With as many bills as local, state, and federal governments go through, a complete democracy would be impossible in this nation.

I have absolutely no problem with representative republics.  On that note, I would have no problem if the electoral college actually served a function—like, for example, if we were actually voting for specific people we trusted to make appropriate decisions for us re: choosing a president.  In its current incarnation, where electors simply toe the party line and get blacklisted if they don't, however, it seems like an unnecessary expense.

If it weren't for the fact that these people get paid (AFAIK), I wouldn't have a problem with the current system… but c'mon, they get paid?!  To do what a computer could do just as well?!

I really think we need to switch from localized elections to proportional elections, however.  Life isn't local anymore.  It's global.

[Miyabi]

I think there should be a committee that decided if something was small enough to be decided by representatives or big enough to let everyone vote.  That way they could take care of all the  minor crap, but if it was extremely important (i.e. presidential elections or amending the constitution) then every vote is counted and weighed equally.

[The Jade Knight]

If that made government somehow cheaper, I could perhaps support it.  But I see absolutely no advantage to doing that if it's only going to make our government cost more.

Speaking of, I think our federal senators and reps get paid a little much.

Here in Nevada, our state legislators get what is pretty close to minimum wage.

[Renoard]

Sounds rather like a pair of awfully ugly shoes (Orange Caus) from a store called Boot Barn.

[Reaves]

If that made government somehow cheaper, I could perhaps support it.  But I see absolutely no advantage to doing that if it's only going to make our government cost more.

Speaking of, I think our federal senators and reps get paid a little much.

Do you know why the definition of the middle-class' upper limit is $100k ? Because every time Congress votes itself a pay raise, they change the upper limit of middle class so that it matches the salary of the least-paid member of Congress.

[Patriotic Kaz]

you mean the bottom end is 100k that's bull crap...i mean the poverty level is around 24k and approx 5 times that is upper middle class? upper middle class for a typical family of four should START at around 300k... i mean the cost of living in a decent house is tremendous then add the other necessities... give me a break...

[Reaves]

I didn't quite understand your post.
Middle class starts at 25k a year.   Middle class ends at 100k a year.

[Silk]

And now for something completely off-topic (and yet completely on-topic):

Money is a stupid thing to fight over.

[Inquisitor]

Most things are stupid things to fight over.

[Silk]

Haha. Touché.

[ryos]

you mean the bottom end is 100k that's bull crap...i mean the poverty level is around 24k and approx 5 times that is upper middle class? upper middle class for a typical family of four should START at around 300k... i mean the cost of living in a decent house is tremendous then add the other necessities... give me a break...

I'm completely puzzled by your post. I'm from a family of six (four kids), and we lived very well on 100K and less. I can't conceive of a universe where a family of four NEEDS 300K a year to survive.

[Inquisitor]

Maybe, the way the economy is going. Dollar losing value and all.

[Silk]

Grumpiness: Internet Exploder. It needs to get itself some (better, any) CSS support.

There are no typos in this post.