A Tale of Three Cities – Revisiting Proportional Representation in the U.S.
Description
George and Colin turn their attention to the US – because believe it or not, parts of the US once used proportional representation! They explore the history and impact of ranked choice voting (RCV) in New York City and its broader implications for electoral reform in the United States and Ireland. After highlighting NYC's adoption of RCV in 2021 and its positive outcomes, including a more diverse city council, George and Colin explore NYC's first-ever use of RCV... all the way back in 1933!
They draw parallels between electoral reforms in the U.S. and Northern Ireland, focusing on their common political landscapes and the systemic challenges faced by their respective minorities. Then for the policy nerds, they dig into gerrymandering and the manipulation of electoral systems, different versions of RCV, and underscore the ongoing potential of proportional representation. They conclude with reflections on modern efforts to revive these electoral reforms, with a case study of Portland, Oregon, and a hopeful vision for the future.
Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode:
Pádraig Ó Tuama, Poetry Unbound
Jenny Lee, Coalition of Communities of Color
Episode photo gallery
Music and archival
Transcript
Article - Back to the future: What New York’s democracy experiment of the 1930s says about today
For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/
For more information on Larj Media, please visit:
https://www.larjmedia.com/
In this bonus episode, listeners can hear the full presentation and poetry reading from Irish poet, conflict mediator, and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama, which was excerpted throughout season 1 of The Future of Our Former Democracy. Before jumping in, Colin and George offer a quick reflection on the...
Published 11/12/24
This episode is a special postscript of 'The Future of Our Former Democracy,' focusing on a learning tour organized by More Equitable Democracy to the Republic of Ireland to observe elections in June 2024. Colin and George recount their experiences at the Royal Dublin Society, witnessing the...
Published 11/06/24