Putting a quarter on the Political Machine

[SAMAS]

So Video Game webcast Extra Credits decided to end last year with a trilogy of looking at American Politics through the eyes of game design. In particular, they're looking from the idea of Incentives, i.e.: Give our politicians direct reasons for doing their jobs right.





They admit that this is all very basic speculation, and of course could have some serious problems if implemented simply, but I think it's an interesting look at the problem and some solutions.

[Ahriman238]

Some of these are really oversimplified, but it's a decent introduction to the major problems with American politics and why and how things got so messed up. I'm not so sure about some of the proposed solutions, but when was the last time you heard anyone suggest anything that could possibly work?

[Simon_Jester]

The fundamental problem is that a lot of our problems could be solved by any reform. Because what's needed is not some specific change of the details. It's the willingness to actually confront problems, punish evildoers, plan for the future- all the things we normally associate with "good government," regardless of whether that government is a republic, a hereditary monarchy, or a communist party dictatorship.

It's not that we have insoluble problems, it's that the problems we have empirically are not being fixed, the people in charge really aren't trying very hard, and the voter base isn't really trying to force them to try.

So this guy can come in and propose things that, hell, probably have as much chance of working as a lot of other ideas. Not because they're especially good, but because just by being willing to do this, by giving politicians any kind of incentive to govern the damn country, we win almost by default.

[madd0ct0r]

I've always liked the suggest that that districts must be able to fit GERRYM ANDERED into their map as two complete blocks that take up 50% of the total distitrict in area. Result - gerrymandered districts look like the word gerrymandered

[Lord MJ]

I see no problem with constitutional amendments that mandate this.

1. Fixed limits on campaign spending and potentially complete nationalization of campaign finance, at least for federal offices.

2. Ban on independent corporate spending to influence political campaigns above a certain amount.

3. People serving in congress must divest themselves of any equity interest in corporations or other commercial entities before being seated.

4. Ban on congressmen serving in private sector entities for a period of time after their term is up (punishable by imprisonment)

5. Ban on congressmen holding equity interest in commercial entities for a period of time after after their term is up (punishable by imprisonment)

6. A very generous pension system created for retired congressmen. That would last at least until the ban on private sector activity is up. And for congressmen who are old enough, a lifetime pension.

[Simon_Jester]

I see no problem with constitutional amendments that mandate this...

1. Fixed limits on campaign spending and potentially complete nationalization of campaign finance, at least for federal offices.

Limits will need to scale with inflation and the number of voters in the politician's constituency or they become a bad joke.

[Lord MJ]

It could be determined in a state by state basis. If Gerrymandering was eliminated, then in theory all the congressional districts in a state would represent the same number of constituents.

[blahface]

If they are talking about bad design, how could our voting system not be addressed?

To take care of Gerrymandering, we could use the shortest split-line algorithm that CGP Grey talks about here.

[Kingmaker]

It could be determined in a state by state basis. If Gerrymandering was eliminated, then in theory all the congressional districts in a state would represent the same number of constituents.

In theory, all congressional districts in a state do represent the same number of constituents. It's just that some of the voters might not enjoy as much influence as if the districts had been drawn differently.