Fixin' the Machine

Michigan Caucus is preparing a special series on the "Nuts and Bolts" of how Progressives and Democrats need to "tweek" the political system in order to start winning elections and re­gain­ing a majority. But before we get to that here's a taste of what we're talking about (after the jump):

Why the Democrats Will Keep Losing
By Steven Hill, Irvine Senior Fellow, New America Foundation

Since the 2004 elections, many have been debating "why Kerry lost," and more broadly "why the Democrats have been losing ground." Much of the debate has focused on the never-ending seesaw of "swing voters vs. base voters," or cultural/religious/"What's the Matter with Kansas?" issues, even George Lakoff-type "reframing" of key concepts and themes.

But what has been completely missing from the conversation is the fact that even when the Democrats win more votes, they don't necessarily win more seats. That's true in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, and the Electoral College. That's because there is a structural disadvantage for Democrats resulting from regional partisan demographics in red versus blue America that now are strongly embedded into our fundamental electoral institutions. This unfair structural disadvantage makes it more difficult for Democrats to win than Republicans. It's like having a foot race in which one side begins 10 meters in front of the other, election after election.

Here's the rest, click here.