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Theoretical Topic: Discreet voting
Posted on 8/21/20 at 1:34 am
Posted on 8/21/20 at 1:34 am
What if the Senate had discreet voting? No one would know for sure how any of the Senators actually voted.
Would more Senators vote as individuals and less as partisans?
Would this be a good thing?
Note: I don't think there's much benefit for discreet voting in the House. One vote almost never determines an outcome unlike in the Senate when it happens quite a bit. Plus, Senators work more closely with one another so discreet voting could potentially make it a little more functional. I say this as someone who likes built-in gridlock. A lot of Senators were in the House so most would have a voting record history to consider.
Would more Senators vote as individuals and less as partisans?
Would this be a good thing?
Note: I don't think there's much benefit for discreet voting in the House. One vote almost never determines an outcome unlike in the Senate when it happens quite a bit. Plus, Senators work more closely with one another so discreet voting could potentially make it a little more functional. I say this as someone who likes built-in gridlock. A lot of Senators were in the House so most would have a voting record history to consider.
This post was edited on 8/21/20 at 2:26 am
2
Posted on 8/21/20 at 1:37 am to BornKjun
Hell no
0 Accountability
0 Accountability
This post was edited on 8/21/20 at 1:38 am
Posted on 8/21/20 at 1:40 am to jts1207
However, the lobbyists wouldn't know how they voted either, and that might be a good thing.
Posted on 8/21/20 at 1:56 am to jts1207
quote:
0 Accountability
Not totally true.
A primary challenger can make a unpopular bill passed by the Senate a major campaign issue.
It would be on the incumbent to defend themselves with circumstantial evidence that they don't agree the unpopular bill and vow to try to overturn it.
Further, if a Republican is a "closet" Democrat (RINO, etc) then real Republicans can endorse primary challengers, etc.
A president like Trump can label them a "phony", for example.
And more than a single individual, the entire body as a whole can be held accountable. Ultimately, the President is the main individual held accountable due to veto power.
If you don't like what the Senate has done and the President didn't veto: campaign against the president.
Posted on 8/21/20 at 2:05 am to auggie
quote:
However, the lobbyists wouldn't know how they voted either, and that might be a good thing
This is one of the things I thought about.
Other things:
No more bills would be written for the sole purpose of political grandstanding.
Would some of the politically difficult issues actually be voted on at times? Social Security reform for example?
Posted on 8/21/20 at 2:10 am to BornKjun
It’s worth a shot. Not like 99.9% of people even consider voting records when choosing a candidate. It could eliminate lobby influence to a degree.
Posted on 8/21/20 at 2:16 am to Robin Masters
quote:As would requiring a big 'L' tattooed across the forehead of every lobbyist.
It could eliminate lobby influence to a degree.
Imagine the conversation: Oh, you're a lobbyist? For who? F'you....
eta: (tattooed )
This post was edited on 8/21/20 at 2:18 am
Posted on 8/21/20 at 2:17 am to Robin Masters
quote:
It’s worth a shot. Not like 99.9% of people even consider voting records when choosing a candidate. It could eliminate lobby influence to a degree.
Really, the main thing I'm thinking is that "activists" would lose a little bit of influence/power.
I don't like political activists very much. I like regular folk. Perhaps discreet voting might make Senators more like regular folk and less like someone worried about activists attacking them.
Senators come and go. Activists always hover around D.C.
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