Re:How to get rid of gerrymandering: the math is surprising
by sokoloff on Thursday May 12, 2022 @11:35AM
(#31355674)
I don’t think the argument is that super-majority is consensus, but that it’s self-evidently closer to consensus than a simple majority is.
When contemplating making major changes in governmental structure, consensus would be best, but super majority is probably second-best and first-achievable.
You can’t run a country needing 100% consensus of over 200M people.
While requiring more than "a simple majority" seems like a mechanism to prevent certain regrettable outcomes, it really doesn't, it's just a line in the sand. We should oppose a million people voting to execute one innocent just as fervently as 500 people voting to execute 499 innocents, the problem isn't the ratio and so a correct solution can't be about the ratio.
Consensus is great, I love consensus - if you can find a consensus that's brilliant. But super-majorities are not a consensus. And of course when you really do have a consensus it tends to be naturally enduring anyway. I am very dubious of people who imagine that there might be a consensus for policy one minute and then shortly after the consensus is gone. I think there was only ever some clever sleight of hand to deliver the illusion of consensus at all for some purpose.