Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner Take All Politics

by Steven Hill

Book Overview

Fixing Elections shows our whole 18th-century Winner Take All political system, including the way we elect our legislatures. Steven Hill argues our geographic-based, Winner Take All political system... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415931932
• ISBN13: 9780415931939
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner Take All P

Fixing Elections hits the nail right on the head! Steven Hill is an insightful, clever, and engaging writer who reveals in page after page, the many faultlines in the way we elect our public officials. Hill's analysis is unique and refreshing -- and accessible. He dissects the American political and election system with the acumen of a political scholar, the tenacity of a man on a mission, but most importantly, with the clarity of a popular writer. Fixing Elections is an engaging and lively book that points to deep flaws in our elections and important directions for reformers to take. This should be required reading for U.S. political science classes, and should be offered in our high schools as well. If you care about creating an engaged citizenry, a strong democracy and an accountable government, READ THIS BOOK!

An Eye Opener !!

This book is a great eye-opener! It makes the reader aware of the many problems in our democracy. We already know that it is in trouble, but most of us don't know what to do about it. The best thing about this book is that it not only identifies the problems, but it gives us a means of finding practical solutions. I hope many more people get the chance to read this book!

Great for Students

I am beginning a political science major at my university but I did not know a lot about the political system before reading Fixing Elections. In class professors always focus on the positive aspects of our electoral system compared to other countries without ever considering the more negative aspects. I highly recommend this book to high school and college students interested in the electoral system. After reading this book, I am well-informed and ready to become more active in political movements in this country. This book is great for anyone who wants to know more about politics and for anyone who wants to learn ways to make the electoral system better for everyone.

READ THIS BOOK!!! A real eye opener!

This book is the "Silent Spring" of our political system. It's full of facts and anecdotes that will make you astonished and wondering why everyone is not apalled and talking about these failures of our system and how we can change it. Everyone knows that something is very wrong with our flailing democracy and the people at the helm, but Hill has really exposed the under belly that rarely gets talked about. He is helping us to see how the U. S. electoral system's failure has permeated the very fabric of our policy decisions and lead to citizen non-participation and despair. Each chapter is well written, compelling, eye opening and revelatory. I am still thinking deeply about the implications of Fixing Elections' arguments and know that this is essential information for the future if we are to survive as a democracy.

The most amazing book

I would give it six stars if I could. This is the most insightful book on American politics I have ever read. It transformed how I look at politics in this country. So much of what ails our democracy -- low participation, poor representation, poor quality of campaigns, policy that doesn't reflect what the majority of Americans want, partisan bickering and polarization,on and on -- the author brilliantly shows how it can all be traced back to the Winner Take All political system we use in the U.S. ONe of the most interesting riffs was how much of what we usually attribute to a lack of campaign finance reform -- lack of political competition, or choice for voters, or accountability -- is really more directly impacted by the incentives of the Winner Take All system. Fascinating.If you read one book on politics this year, make it this one.