# Post-Trump reforms you'd like to see **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 23, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703 "2018-05-23T21:30:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/41 "2018-05-24T18:05:24Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I would go further and treat districting like jury duty. Why let humans do it at all? It shouldn’t be too hard to create an algorithm that divides a state into areas of equal population, with adjustments for conventional borders like roads, rivers, etc. Sure, you’d have some homogeneous districts, but you’d also have some with random mixes of people who would just have to figure shit out together. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/42 "2018-05-24T18:26:14Z")
> [@Batano](#): > > The flailing Washington Post. _popped monocle_ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/43 "2018-05-24T20:10:27Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Why let humans do it at all? It shouldn’t be too hard to create an algorithm that divides a state into areas of equal population, with adjustments for conventional borders like roads, rivers, etc. Sure, you’d have some homogeneous districts, but you’d also have some with random mixes of people who would just have to figure shit out together. Who designs the algorithm? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/44 "2018-05-24T20:15:01Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Who designs the algorithm? A bipartisan committee, of course. Damn, it seemed like such a good idea … ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/45 "2018-05-24T20:19:07Z")
Some random kid in Zambia. Just give the kid a map, a pencil, some basic instructions and accept what gets drawn as THE boundary for the next 5 years. Totally fair. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/46 "2018-05-24T20:23:37Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Some random kid in Zambia. Nah, you’d also need one from a random kid in a non-shithole country, and then have a bipartisan committee develop an algorithm to reconcile the two maps. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/47 "2018-05-24T20:46:00Z")
I’d like to see all future candidates having to submit to a mental competency and a full screen of sociopathology tests. Name the statute requirement after Trump to serve as an ever present reminder of the past. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/48 "2018-05-24T20:48:15Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > 2020: Trump’s second term > 2024: Pence’s first term > 2028: Pence’s second term > 🙂 > [@Bullitt](#): > > I am quite happy thus far, yes. > [@Bullitt](#): > > I am quite happy with how our country is going, in general, since last Nov. Which specific goings on are you most happy about? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/49 "2018-05-24T20:49:31Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > A bipartisan committee, of course. Damn, it seemed like such a good idea … . > [@Stephen Hawking](#): > > “You’re very clever, young man, very clever,” said the old lady. “But it’s turtles all the way down!” . ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/50 "2018-05-24T21:29:30Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Who designs the algorithm? Just outsource it to academia; some comp sci department. Run it by a peer review for fairness and accuracy. Have every state run the same software. Done and dusted. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/51 "2018-05-24T22:33:12Z")
Again, laws and norms and procedures don’t mean squat if the people aren’t in the mood to vote for officials who care about the laws and norms and procedures. Good government requires an electorate that demands good government. Changing the rules such that Trump would have been disqualified under the new rules ignores the part where the next asshole isn’t going to be Donald Trump. The reason we’re floundering isn’t because there aren’t rules that would stop Donald Trump. The reason we’re floundering is because too many people voted for a transparent conman like Trump. Yeah, a few votes the other way here and there and Trump would have lost. So what? Changing the rules so that the next numbskull needs 50% of the vote instead of being able to win with 48% isn’t the answer. The problem is a debased and degraded people, who can’t tell the difference between chicken salad and chicken shit. And it’s not like Trump was tricking them, since his lies and narcissism and cowardice weren’t exactly hidden behind a clever facade. Nope, they voted for him knowing exactly what he was. There’s your problem. The schemer who hides behind a respectable facade at least knows how to pretend to act in public, and does their dirty deeds in secret. Such a person can perhaps be exposed by revealing their treachery. But with Trump? It ain’t secret, folks. There aren’t going to be any revelations that are going to suddenly make the deplorables slap their foreheads and realize they’ve been taken in. They weren’t taken in, this is exactly what they expected, and they voted for it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/52 "2018-05-24T23:29:33Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > 1. Advise & Consent. The most egregious and infuriating abuse of power in US legislative history was Mitch McConnell’s ignoring of Obama’s SCOTUS appointment. Again, ideally through a court decision but an amendment if necessary – an unequivocal statement that the president’s appointment power extends to the last day of his term; and that the Senate has xx days to exercise their right to advise and consent. Failure to do so would result in the nominee’s appointment by default. Your response to Trump’s presidency is to give the _president_ more power? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/53 "2018-05-25T00:44:42Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Have every state run the same software. Done and dusted. No. You want multiple universities building competing software to prevent under-the-hood shenanigans, and the actual software used in any state or parish every year needs to be randomized at the last minute from among the various options to prevent gaming the system uphill by moving people around. You also want all of the software used to be open source so that any citizen can verify the results and prevent partisan fuckery (hi, Diebold !). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/54 "2018-05-25T01:03:17Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > But with Trump? It ain’t secret, folks. There aren’t going to be any revelations that are going to suddenly make the deplorables slap their foreheads and realize they’ve been taken in. They weren’t taken in, this is exactly what they expected, and they voted for it anyway. You know, as much as I want to make a clever joke about how they just owned you libs and y’all can’t take a troll ; I really wonder about that, especially based on the numerous Brexis voters who now grouse that, say, they’ll have to get a visa to move into the EU or won’t be able to influence EU matters any more or the NHS won’t get more funding (despite the **thoroughly debunked** UKIP campaign slogan/promise) People really are fucking stupid, and low-information voters are really, but really easily influenced. Apparently. Why is this never used for good ?! ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/55 "2018-05-25T01:13:47Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Which specific goings on are you most happy about? Careful, don’t wanna overfeed that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/56 "2018-05-25T01:26:25Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The irony burns like thermite! Unfortunately, it would be difficult to fully encompass all of the various and largely undocumented powers of the executive office in a single amendment, particularly authority arising from future social, political, and technological developments. The Founding Fathers certainly never anticipated the president being able to launch drone strikes around the world or manipulating the electorate via the use of social media, and we may similarly lack foresight into the future of the office. It would seem better to fundamentally change the nature of the office to render it more accountable beyond a once-every-four-year electoral cycle. How about we make it so the party in power cannot willfully ignore presidential usurpation of power. Think brazen violations of the emoluments clause. Make it so the highest law of the law cannot be flouted because it is not convenient to those in power. I’m not sure how you get there but I am sure someone can come up with something. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/57 "2018-05-25T01:34:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Make it so the highest law of the law… …law of the land… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/58 "2018-05-25T02:20:10Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > You know, as much as I want to make a clever joke about how they just owned you libs and y’all can’t take a troll ; I really wonder about that, especially based on the numerous Brexis voters who now grouse that, say, they’ll have to get a visa to move into the EU or won’t be able to influence EU matters any more or the NHS won’t get more funding (despite the **thoroughly debunked** UKIP campaign slogan/promise) > > People really are fucking stupid, and low-information voters are really, but really easily influenced. Apparently. > Why is this never used for good ?! “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”–Alexander Hamilton Obviously we haven’t the will to demand that government enforce the law. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/59 "2018-05-25T02:55:47Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > How about we make it so the party in power cannot willfully ignore presidential usurpation of power. Think brazen violations of the emoluments clause. Make it so the highest law of the law cannot be flouted because it is not convenient to those in power. > > I’m not sure how you get there but I am sure someone can come up with something. We do have something. If the party in power won’t do its job you put the other party in power. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703/60 "2018-05-25T06:15:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > We do have something. If the party in power won’t do its job you put the other party in power. The problem with that is, it seems less and less feasible all the time. I don’t know whether it’s because partisanship is on the rise, or gerrymandering, or voter turnout or wedge issues doing the wedging real good but fewer and fewer people in your great nation have a meaningful voice in determining the outcome of presidential elections. There didn’t _use_ to be red states and blue states. When Nixon lost in 1960, 20 states came within a 5 point margin, representing a good 75% of the electoral college. People had to campaign and message in every corner of the US back then. In 2012 Obama won with 4 states coming within that 5% margin. When Trump got elected, 4 states were actual close (less than 1%) races. Four. 12 within that 5 point margin. And I think we can agree that Trump is a slightly more, ah, polarizing completely insane figure compared to JFK, or Obama. In the other 38 States, people on the wrong side of the established split may as well stay home on election day because results have been the same for ever, come hell or high water. To be fair, minority voters in those places still have a voice when it comes to gubernatorial and congressional votes. But what they can’t do is meaningfully react to whatever the White House is cooking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-trump-reforms-youd-like-to-see/814703.md?page=4)