Proportional Representation Could Solve Two of America’s Biggest Political Problems

Whatever the Causes of Polarization, there is a relatively straightforward solution to our current predicament that has been embraced by most advanced Industrial Democracies, Proportional Representation.

There are many versions of this approach, but they all involve some way of Electing multiple people, at once, to represent a Region.

In a Proportional system, Parties representing as little as 1% of the Electorate can gain Representation, though the most stable systems usually have a threshold percentage level to prevent truly Marginal Parties from gaining Seats.

The Regions can be as large as an entire Nation, but even when they are smaller they tend to be larger than the 435 U.S. Congressional Districts, each of which is run according to the “Winner Take All” Principle.

Under a Proportional system, if you want to live in a big, Liberal City in a Liberal State, you don’t give up the chance to make a difference with your vote. There is also very little possibility for consequential Gerrymandering in Proportional Representation Systems, since Districts tend to be so big that there’s not much to gain from alternative line-drawings.

Perhaps most significantly, Proportional Representation makes Third Parties more viable. In the U.S. system, many voters might prefer a Third Party, in theory, but in a “Winner-Take-All” scenario a vote for a Third Party is a wasted vote, since only the two Major Parties stand a chance of winning. As a result, most Proportional Systems have at least three Major Parties, often more. This produces a Wider Diversity of perspectives in the Representative body, and more potential for Bargaining across different issues.

With our current system, Electing around five Independent Senators could remove the Majority from both Major Parties.

The Centrist Project aims to reshape and reform our Political system, not as a traditional Third Party, but as America’s first Unparty. They are a 21st Century Grassroots organization dedicated to organizing Centrist Americans, supporting Centrist Policies and encouraging more Independent Candidates to run for Public office to put our Country ahead of any Political faction in order to Solve Problems.

CLICK HERE for more information about The Centrist Project.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker