Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner Take All Politics

by Steven Hill

Fixing Elections shows our whole 18th-century Winner Take All political system, including the way we elect our legislatures. Steven Hill argues our geographic-based, Winner Take All political system is at the root of many of our worst political problems, including poor minority and majority representation, low voter turnout, expensive mudslinging campaigns, congressional gridlock, regional balkanization, and the growing divide between city-dwellers and middle-America.

Genres: Politics

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2002

Reviews

[Sylvia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I read this excellent book, I thought money in politics was the primary problem with our political system. But Steven Hill clearly explains how the WAY we vote is just as big a (or perhaps an even bigger) obstacle to good public policy. I now believe electoral reform is something Americans really need to be talking about. Unfortunately, as Hill points out, we are so used to our winner takes all system, that we ignore how it is adversely affecting public policy. Even now, with the long overdue focus on income inequality that the current Occupy Wall Street protests have brought about, HOW we vote is not mentioned in conversations about corruption in our political system, although money in politics is. I liked how Hill writes about modern voting technologies (as he calls them), such as ranked choice voting, cumulative voting, limited voting, proportional representation and so on. I am recommending this book to everyone, especially my progressive friends who are disenchanted with the Democrats and President Obama. There's a REASON why they are not more progressive. It just doesn't only have to do with the corrupting influence of money, but also the terrible way in which we are choosing our legislators. Hill shows that majority opinion doesn't rule in America, and the Founders are to blame for that. The Founders got a lot right in creating the U.S. and the Constitution, but they also got a lot wrong. We are paying today dearly for their mistakes - the Electoral College (two Senators per state) being one. So no amount of soaring rhetoric by Obama (or any future Democratic president) or cajoling Republicans into doing the right thing is going to move the needle in a more progressive direction, unless and until we establish majority rule in this country by modernizing the way we vote. (I wanted to give Fixing Elections 4 1/2 stars, but Goodreads doesn't allow halfs. I can't give the book a five, only because Hill is redundant in some places.)

[Mlg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but little dated (it only goes to 2000) analysis of the failings of our electoral system. I would have liked more on reforming the primary system and means of voting (machines, paper ballots, etc.), but the information here was excellent. It's definitely time for a major reform of our "winner take all" system.

[Public Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a revelation. It has made me completely reevaluate what I thought were the root causes of American government dysfunction. Like everyone else I assumed money was the source of our problems, Hill says it is the way we elect our government. He is... very persuasive. I highly recommend this book.

[Donalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our election system is so screwed up! Yet another book club book that has left me growling and prepared to go ninja.