The Republicans want to deconstruct/weaken the federal government and return power to the people so that Alabama can be the Alabama it wants to be. Sorry ND! (I assume you are from Alabama).

@ND, 500BC thinking implies that you have VERY old-fashioned ideas.

Athens was big around 500BC

Ah, I am from Virginia actually, but I see that you are stereotyping and making assumptions about me simply because I have a different political perspective. I would not do the same about you simply because of your political ideas.

Athens had a direct democracy like Ogion wants.

America was never a direct democracy and never will be. It was founded as a Constitutional Republic and that is what it is.

Taking the high road, huh? I zig, you zag? You're a cunning one, ND!

I am just a tolerant and accepting person I wish others were as well :(

I wuv you.

Well if it's based on land @ND, Alaska should have about 1/3 of the voting power - that makes sense, right?
And while a Constitutional amendment would be needed to completely eliminate the electoral college approach, the formula used to assign electoral delegates could be changed without a constitutional amendment to be more fair, but I don't see that happening either. For example, Wyoming gets two electoral votes for its two senators, and one for it's population of ~500K people. A state with roughly 900K people also gets two votes for its two senators and one for its roughly 900K people (just the way the formula works right now). The two votes for the two senators in each state isn't going anywhere without a constitutional change, but we could change the system so that 500K people get 1 vote, and 900K people get 1.8 votes (you know, proportional). I have no problem with fractional votes, or representatives that have a fractional vote - but the country is probably uncomfortable with this concept.

Ever since some people were worth only 3/5ths, there's been a sensitivity to fractions of a vote. Sorry dude.

A proportional system based on land mass may work, but honestly I think the way it is set up with the electoral college is perfectly fine.

ND and Sly, you're still awake. YOu should check out this amusing video about corruption in Russia. Not kidding, you should enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrwlk7_GF9g

ND did not disappoint. His definition of majority is terrible.

I think it would be a mistake to assume that dissatisfied Republican voters, or dissatisfied other conservative voters would swing back to the left...they'd be, imho, just as likely to drift further to the extreme right.
I think Liberals have a real.challenge facing them, as do the Socialists, and Socialist ~democrats..their support base appears to be shrinking to educated elites... Trying to explain to poorly educated ex workers that forces like changing technologies, the globalisation of economic activity that put them out of work won't stop and that they have to adapt, learn new skills etc, whilst being easily understood by the educated elites, is just not a message many of them will accept, too many will react emotionally, obstinately, and as Trump has demonstrated, they will buy into illogical simplistic propaganda from a Demagogue in preference to hard truths. And there are plenty of educated Conservatives willing to exploit them, eager to exploit them.

I think MM has hit the nail on the head there.
ND's idea of proportional system based on land mass is an absolute joke. You're trolling us, right ND? Just think, the 10% of the population (if even that) in Alaska, Montana, Idaho, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Nevada, Kansas, and Oklahoma could get together and have majority control over what the country does - brilliant system there.

Actually, there is a lot of liberal support across the board. Don't forget Clinton won the vote. With the courts starting to kick gerrymandering in the teeth, we might get to a situation where at least the house bears a resemblance of being democratic although under the Trump administration a lot of liberal citizens will be stripped of the vote through the usual voters suppression fraud so even with broad support it is a challenge to win power even with broad support that's just life in America.

I want a Russian tie. What, are they all a bold, attractive red? Where do I get one? Maybe Dillard's? The Men's Wearhouse?

@ND: Don't worry, 500BC thinking is a good thing, seriously. Old-fashioned is a good thing. We know about Athens because their ways survived. Their way of doing things is slightly reflected in what we do today.

even working with the Kremlin is no guarantee. six dead diplomats in four months?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-diplomats-deaths-theories-putin-kremlin-a7602201.html