Why US Politics Is Broken — and How To Fix It | Andrew Yang | TED
American Politics: Challenges and Solutions
Andrew Yang discusses the flaws in American politics, focusing on incentives and design issues that hinder progress.
The Flaws in American Politics
- Addressing the design flaw in American politics can be done at a minimal cost compared to current campaign expenditures.
- Emphasizing the need to realign incentives within the political system for positive change.
- Highlighting the low approval rating of US Congress (15%) juxtaposed with a high re-election rate for incumbent House members (94%).
Incentives and Base Voters
- Explaining how gerrymandered districts lead to predictability in party representation before elections.
- Illustrating how fear of losing base voters influences politicians more than general election outcomes.
- Noting the significant impact of base voters on politicians' decisions due to their influence on primary elections.
Challenges Faced by Legislators
Andrew Yang delves into the challenges legislators face when addressing critical issues and potential solutions.
Legislative Challenges
- Describing how legislators face reduced job security if they compromise or address problems, leading to stagnation.
- Listing major issues like immigration, climate change, AI, and poverty that remain unaddressed due to existing political dynamics.
Alaska's Primary Process Reform
Discussing Alaska's primary process reform as a potential solution to improve political dynamics.
Alaska's Primary Reform
- Explaining Alaska's shift to a single primary with ranked-choice voting for all candidates regardless of party affiliation.
Sarah Palin vs. Mary Peltola
The discussion highlights the impact of ranked-choice voting in Alaska, showcasing how it influenced the outcome of an election involving Sarah Palin and Mary Peltola.
Ranked-Choice Voting Impact
- Mary Peltola, a state legislator, defeated Sarah Palin for a congressional seat in 2022 due to ranked-choice voting.
- If Sarah Palin had won, her presence in DC would have led to sensationalism and polarization in media coverage.
- Ranked-choice voting prevented potential negative outcomes by avoiding sensationalism and maintaining political stability.
- Senator Lisa Murkowski's re-election success post-impeachment vote was attributed to being the second choice of voters under this system.
Reform Campaign Impact
This section delves into the broader implications of adopting ranked-choice voting beyond individual elections.
Broader Implications
- The reform campaign cost $6 million but had significant positive effects on Alaskan politics within two years.
- Nevada approved a similar system at a higher cost ($22 million), emphasizing the potential for nationwide adoption.
- Five more states are considering similar reforms, envisioning a shift towards rationalized American politics through nonpartisan primaries and ranked-choice voting.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Analyzing the costs associated with implementing electoral reforms compared to traditional campaign expenditures.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Implementing reforms in 10 states at an estimated cost of $200 million is juxtaposed with the excessive $10 billion spent on divisive campaigning.