EP 219 Katherine Gehl on Breaking Partisan Gridlock
Jan 25, 2024
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Katherine Gehl, author of The Politics Industry, discusses breaking partisan gridlock and saving democracy. They explore Michael Porter's work, political industry theory, unhelpful activities, the protected duopoly, Alaska's experiment in final-four voting, and more.
Plurality voting and party primaries contribute to lack of competition and polarization in politics.
Final Five Voting is a proposed reform that addresses the problems of plurality voting and party primaries.
Final five voting aims to increase competition, provide more choice for voters, and incentivize problem-solving over extreme partisanship.
Deep dives
The Problem with Plurality Voting and Party Primaries
Plurality voting allows candidates to win with the most votes even if they don't have a majority. Party primaries further limit choices and often result in extreme candidates winning. These two non-constitutional elements of our election system contribute to the lack of competition, lesser of two evils choices, and polarization in politics.
Final Five Voting as a Solution
Final Five Voting is a proposed reform that addresses the problems of plurality voting and party primaries. It involves two changes: a single ballot primary where the top five finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election, and an instant runoff ranked choice voting system in the general election to ensure a majority winner. By eliminating party dominance and encouraging competition, final five voting aims to elect representatives who are accountable to the majority of voters and incentivize problem-solving over extreme partisanship.
Benefits of Final Five Voting and Current Adoption
Final five voting offers numerous benefits, including increased competition, more choice for voters, a focus on problem-solving, and accountability for elected officials. It has been implemented in some cities and states, with Alaska having a similar final four voting system. However, it is important to note that final five voting is distinct from other reform efforts such as ranked choice voting and open primaries, as it specifically addresses the issues of plurality voting and party dominance.
Plurality voting limits competition in serving voters
Plurality voting, which is the current voting system in the US, restricts competition in serving voters' needs. This system, inherited from other countries, does not necessarily provide optimal choices for voters. It often leads to a two-party dominance, reducing the diversity of ideas and candidates. However, by introducing reforms like final five voting, the US can strike a balance between having a manageable number of parties and allowing for new competition. This would create an opportunity for new candidates and ideas to arise, ultimately improving democracy and policy outcomes.
The drawbacks of party primaries in selecting candidates
Party primaries, introduced around a century ago, were intended to give power to the people in candidate selection. However, over time, party primaries have become a hurdle in solving national issues. In many districts, party primaries have become determinants of who wins the general election, with candidates being chosen by a fraction of voters. This system leads to candidates catering to the preferences of a narrow segment of the electorate, undermining the broader needs of the public. Implementing open primaries in conjunction with final five voting could provide a solution, allowing parties to strategically choose their candidates, while giving all voters an opportunity to have a say in the selection process.
Jim talks with Katherine Gehl about her and Michael Porter's book, The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy. They discuss Jim's past familiarity with Michael Porter's work, Porter's five forces, the "what the hell is water" phenomenon, the Schoolhouse Rock problem, political industry theory, political payback for unhelpful activities, why political competitors are doing better as "customers" become more dissatisfied, the current American party system as a protected duopoly, nonprofit investments in things that have no chance, non-constitutional problems, the reversible accident of plurality voting, whether more parties are essential, how Ross Perot's 1992 election pressured the two parties to balance the budget, reforming the primary system, final-five voting, Alaska's experiment in final-four voting, instant runoffs, freeing players to make good strategic choices, lowering the barrier to entry for new thinking, and much more.
Episode Transcript
The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy, by Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter
Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, by Michael Porter
Katherine Gehl is the originator of Final Five Voting (FFV)—a new election system designed to positively transform the incentives driving our dysfunctional politics. In 2020, Gehl published The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy (with co-author Michael Porter of Harvard Business School). Her work applied a competition lens and classic tools of industry analysis to politics for the first time. Today, Gehl leads the national Campaign for Final Five Voting which she co-founded with leaders across the political spectrum.
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