today, it's simply city council and school committee; in cambridge, we have proportional representation, so i get to vote for everyone running (i have to rank city council candidates from 1 to 18).
It's amazing that we can't have proportional representation in, for example, US House elections. We we have a far more interesting and creative legislative branch if we did. And those redistricting battles would go away.
yes... multiple-member house districts with proportional representation could be pretty cool. it might also stimulate the growth of additional political parties.
i also believe the house's population should be massively increased, so as to provide for more members representing smaller constituencies.
but who wants a "more interesting and creative legislative branch" anyhow? sounds suspicious.
Along those lines, I would like to see a more Parliamentary approach, especially in local government. The whole idea of "all or nothing" seems rather silly, especially now, when the current powers have redistricted so many areas (of course, that's *exactly* why they redistricted). At least in other 1st world countries, the minority gets a voice.
I forgot you were in C'bridge. I used to pop up there about once or twice a month to see friends. Despite hating my university years, I do still hold Cambridge fondly in my heart.
i met my first candidate of this election half a block from the polling place. it was nice knowing that the only one who actually asked for my vote was my #1 pick for school committee.
this is the first time i have ever gone from the gym to the polling place. the aerobic high carried me right through filling in all those little ovals.
This year the Cambridge vote was way down - about 16,500 voted in 2003 it was 20,900.
It looks like an interesting election - the unofficial results show one incumbent city councillor beaten and 2 school committee persons out - this might change tomorrow when they process the 534 unscanned ballots.
wow... my ballot had a write-in, so i'm one of those unscanned ballots (in the city council races)... and i didn't vote for all the incumbents (two i wouldn't put out if they were on fire), so my preferences won't help.
While I don't have the hard numbers, we're supposedly down quite a bit as well. Not atypical for an "off-year" election (our governor doesn't come up for election until 2006), but still a bit of a let-down.
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Date: 2005-11-08 08:00 pm (UTC)today, it's simply city council and school committee; in cambridge, we have proportional representation, so i get to vote for everyone running (i have to rank city council candidates from 1 to 18).
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Date: 2005-11-08 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 08:46 pm (UTC)i also believe the house's population should be massively increased, so as to provide for more members representing smaller constituencies.
but who wants a "more interesting and creative legislative branch" anyhow? sounds suspicious.
<grin>
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Date: 2005-11-08 10:26 pm (UTC)A bit ironic, no?
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Date: 2005-11-08 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-09 12:55 am (UTC)i met my first candidate of this election half a block from the polling place. it was nice knowing that the only one who actually asked for my vote was my #1 pick for school committee.
this is the first time i have ever gone from the gym to the polling place. the aerobic high carried me right through filling in all those little ovals.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-09 05:10 am (UTC)It looks like an interesting election - the unofficial results show one incumbent city councillor beaten and 2 school committee persons out - this might change tomorrow when they process the 534 unscanned ballots.
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Date: 2005-11-09 05:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-09 07:53 am (UTC)Despite hating my university years, I do still hold Cambridge
Date: 2005-11-09 04:50 pm (UTC)Perhaps I should invite you to dinner with a largely liquid menu :)