I like this type of discussion a lot. Major voting reform is hard to come by (if not almost impossible in the US) and I would mostly agree that there are changes that need to be made in the US voting system. Although, even though Canada and the UK also use FPTP I personally favor their parliamentary system and I would be hesitant to group them in with the US as being crap because like I said they do share the FPTP system but so do close to 1/3 of other countries. Not to mention that although they can be labeled all the same they can also vary widely in how they play out since many countries that use the FPTP system have not only single-member constituencies, but also multi-member constituencies and mixed majoritarian and proportional systems.
A large problem with talking about these kinds of reforms is unless you're very specific of course people aren't going to get behind it. Saying RCV is an improvement over FPTP could be true, but both vary so widely in specifics that it's hard to say. For instance, RCV to certainly not be any better if it pertains to a Borda Count because this makes it even tougher to get any majority or determine a member (mainly in single member constituency situations). In other words, consensus is definitely king but just general consensus on a topic is a weak foundation for a movement (even more prominently a grass roots one).
I know you brought up PAD voting but this is also susceptible to the problems with Borda Counts. However, all of that being said, logically if you are passionate and care about an issue, especially a political one, it is arguably your duty and certainly your prerogative to aid your cause in an empirically motivated and meaningful way. Especially in Maine since RCV was unconstitutional in accordance with Maine's state constitution. Also just as a side I side note I enthusiastically agree with the premise of being a Devil's advocate as this does it's own part to promote understanding and in turn (hopefully) consensus.
I like this type of discussion a lot. Major voting reform is hard to come by (if not almost impossible in the US) and I would mostly agree that there are changes that need to be made in the US voting system. Although, even though Canada and the UK also use FPTP I personally favor their parliamentary system and I would be hesitant to group them in with the US as being crap because like I said they do share the FPTP system but so do close to 1/3 of other countries. Not to mention that although they can be labeled all the same they can also vary widely in how they play out since many countries that use the FPTP system have not only single-member constituencies, but also multi-member constituencies and mixed majoritarian and proportional systems.
A large problem with talking about these kinds of reforms is unless you're very specific of course people aren't going to get behind it. Saying RCV is an improvement over FPTP could be true, but both vary so widely in specifics that it's hard to say. For instance, RCV to certainly not be any better if it pertains to a Borda Count because this makes it even tougher to get any majority or determine a member (mainly in single member constituency situations). In other words, consensus is definitely king but just general consensus on a topic is a weak foundation for a movement (even more prominently a grass roots one).
I know you brought up PAD voting but this is also susceptible to the problems with Borda Counts. However, all of that being said, logically if you are passionate and care about an issue, especially a political one, it is arguably your duty and certainly your prerogative to aid your cause in an empirically motivated and meaningful way. Especially in Maine since RCV was unconstitutional in accordance with Maine's state constitution. Also just as a side I side note I enthusiastically agree with the premise of being a Devil's advocate as this does it's own part to promote understanding and in turn (hopefully) consensus.