On the Number of Parties 4: The Oddity of Two, Part 1

A real example of American exceptionalism.

GOP Behavior

Ezra Klein has some thought on the Republican Party.

Primaries and Party Evolution

Open access to party labels has consequences.

More Alaskan Politics

And thoughts on party systems more generally.

Minority Rule Isn’t a Myth

The will of the majority can prevail even in a skewed system.

Podcast Recommendation

On Spurious Majorities and Other Thoughts on Electoral System Critiques

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

The Centrist Fantasy

Can moderate Republicans take back their party?

Moving Away From Off-Off Year Elections

Localities are consolidating local elections to coincide with national ones. Some don’t like that.

Republicans Winning House Popular Vote?

A surprising factoid in a bad election for the party.

The Prevailing Myth of American Politics

A bit of a rant, I expect.

An Observation on Geography-Based Representation

A thought inspired by the PA Senate race.

A Basic Theory of Voting Behavior

And a reminder of the role of political parties.

When Autocrats Get Desperate

Autocrats facing defeat have all kinds of counterproductive, dangerous ideas.

N=1 Means, Well, Not a Lot

No one should draw conclusions about RCV from the AK special election.

politics outrage shouting politics outrage shouting

What’s Politics For, Anyway?

Capitol Hill Republicans are turning the concept on its head.

Failed and Has-Been Politicians Start New Party

The Forward Party will almost certainly go nowhere.

The January 6 Hearings Didn’t Change Entrenched Opinion

Can American democracy survive its information bubbles?

Originalism and the Declaration of Independence

The implications of modes of interpretation.

Fixing the Primary Problem

Could Alaska point the way to a solution?

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Q&A Time

Hopefully answering a reader question (but probably just making it all worse).

On American Parties

More on primaries with a foray into Madison and the general politics of power-seekers and incentives.

An Extreme Example of the Problem with Primaries

Nobody is keeping the gate.

New York’s Gerrymandering Disarmament

When doing the right thing is the wrong thing.

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A Lament and The Reality of Politics

A illustration from the Senate race in Georgia.

An Action-Oriented Prescription

A follow on from yesterday.

The Flawed Nature of Representation in the US

Our representation problems are far, far more about structure than they are about the messaging of the parties.

Mike Lee’s Texts

He was clearly willing to subvert the election.

A “Fairer” Map for the 2022 House?

A potentially more representative map that still underscores deep flaws in our system.

Democratic Backsliding and the American Right

The only way to save our freedom is to destroy it.

America’s Four Parties

Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans truly represent most Americans. Fixing that is exceedingly unlikely.

Virginia’s Youngkin Already ‘Underwater’

The Commonwealth’s undemocratic political system is, shockingly, unrepresentative of the will of its people.

Elections with Foregone Conclusions

Greatest democracy in the world, right?

Of Laws and Men

Our system lacks accountability.

More Rogan (but not Just Rogan)

Musings about US politics and culture.

On Moderate Legislative Power and Other Political Dreams

A bloc of moderates is not coming to a Senate near you.

Podcast Recommendation

SLT guests on Peaceful Political Revolution in America to talk American democracy.

On the Number of Parties 3: More Sophisticated Counting

The effective number of parties.

On the Number of Parties 2: Basic Counting, Part 2

This time: some multi-party examples.

On the Number of Parties 1: Basic Counting, Part 1

Counting is not necessarily as straightforward as it may seem.

Revisiting Stacey Abrams’ Nonconcession

Assessing her actions in 2018 in light of 2020 and onward.

Single-Seat Districts are a Huge Problem

Politicians controlling lines control voters (instead of voters controlling politicians).

Trump, Electoral Fraud Lies, and the Primaries

Our system and the shaping of the GOP’s future.

The House of “Representatives”

The erosion of representativeness continues.

Election 2021 in Context: Looking at Electorates

The electoral calendar affects who the electorate is.

Backwards: When Politicians Choose Their Voters

Voters are suppose to choose elected officials, not the other way around.

Saving American Democracy

The Politician’s Syllogism rears its ugly head.

Thoughts on Partisan Cues and Filters

Thoughts on how we think.

Is Texas Undemocratic?

The Lone Star State has enacted some peculiar new laws.

The CA Recall

The system is not defensible.