I know you guys talk about these civil issues, not saying they don't matter by any means such as with racism, protests, immigration; but at the other spectrum already Trump has talked to Ian reed and other big pharma figureheads who are actively considering staying or relocating to the US, if the tax rate is lower/ providing way more higher paying jobs here. Even Apple is considering it. So M&A activity in big pharma, tech, energy sectors will increase/ which is another reason why Wall Street is looking good.
In regards to electoral college, it does come down to states rights and equal representation of the state. States are different, in economics, culture, laws, etc... and if the electoral college was dismantled and it went by popular vote/ then more states than the few blue would feel there representation didn't mean anything at all, and that a few states gain full power. That's why it exists in general, so I don't believe in a full dismantlement but definitely needs to be modified in terms of gerrymandering and other sketchy policies
Karth...no...bad karth...you're treading in my domain. For one, more jobs isn't always a good thing. The question is if these jobs are good paying jobs. Take for instance walmart okay, walmart decides to invest in more stores across the country, sounds good right? More jobs, more cheap goods for people to buy, ect. The problem becomes much more evident when you realize that walmart pays shit wages and walmart as a competitor can run many businesses into the ground. Realistically, there will be job loss and the jobs gained will be worse. To make matters even more bad, it hurts local economies because 1. like i said, it runs other businesses into the ground and 2. money spent at walmart does not stay in the area besides the poverty wages given to the employees. More money leaves the area then goes into it. Walmart as a company is an economic drain. This is the reality of economics. Many other companies are just like this, apple is okay (i guess), big pharma is awful, tech & energy is sorta 50/50. One other thing, lower taxes does not necessarily mean higher wages unless the taxes lowered are income taxes, please don't assume this. When papa trump talks about helping the economy, be very skeptical. Who is he helping? The average joe or the CEO?
As for the electoral college, it should definitely either be by popular vote or some form of alternative voting system like the euros do. The largest voting block in this country is not democrats, its not republicans, it's people who identify as independents. Right now, these people only matter in states that may flip and are completely irrelevant in either solid blue or solid red states, in addition dems in red states are irrelevant as well as reps in blue states. Essentially there are a whole bunch of people who vote who make zero impact at all in the election. Want to make people feel like their vote means something? Abolish the electoral college because as it stands, independents in swing states matter too much and republicans/democrats in opposing states matter too little. Also gerrymandering has very little effect on the electoral college. Gerrymandering has to do with state/local representatives and senators, not so much the presidential election. I believe that there are districts which can be redrawn for college electors but this really only matters if they intend to be unfaithful electors which barely happens.