Oh yes it would. There's a reason our ruling elites have preserved an 18th
> century electoral system: it's because it serves their interests very well
> indeed.
True enough. But that does not mean that those in power always think most rationally about how to hold on to their power. Those who fall from power are often replaced by those who have figured out more clever ways to keep people confused and/or stupidly optimistic (which, i should emphasize, is not used here as synonomous with 'hopeful'.)
Without a PR system, you can't create a viable 3rd party (let
> alone a 4th, 5th or 6th);
True. But where is your evidence that PR systems do 'wonders' for the workers? if you are gonna answer with western europe, (which is the only even vaguely imaginable answer) i beg to differ. first of all, let's be clear: european workers 'benefit' first and foremost from living in capitalist countries whose wealth is a function of exploitation; second of all, PR in europe is a part of the larger social democracy scam in europe that is designed to create the illusion of shared power (an illusion that clearly respects no borders); third, even to the extent that PR does allow for a modicum of effective expression of working peoples concerns here, it still is a part of the dread social democratic compact whereby it represents an accomodation by some of the exploited to their continuing exploitation at the expense of still others of the exploited.
But also false. i think the tiny little green party, with all of its serious problems is quite viable--at least for the moment--as evidenced by the fact that they might have destroyed al gore's presidential ambitions, which is fine by me. i did not vote. but it may turn out that the chaos in florida--for which the nader folks are largely responsible--may, in spite of my (i like to think) correct analysis, result in some some weird way in seeding some new insurgency. may, i say...
democracy
you end up with a cynical, demoralized
> electorate, ripe for the neoliberal plucking.
which is exactly where the european voter is headed, trailing, of course, many of the proles, 'gypsies', arabs, and africans whove already arrived there.
PR is a crucial step in the
> decommodification of US politics.
Has PR decommodofied politics anywhere else? Or do you mean reduced commodification?
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