Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner-Take-All Politics HB (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On November 9, 2000, two days after the presidential election, as the nation was beginning to absorb the full extent of the five-week debacle that..." (more)
Key Phrases: orphaned voters, simulated responsiveness, representation subsidy, United States, New York, New Goreia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The cofounder and associate director of the Center for Voting and Democracy (www.fairvote.org) and author of Whose Vote Counts and numerous articles on the electoral system, Hill here presents an analysis of the current winner-take-all electoral system in the United States. He examines how this two-party system affects voter participation, legislative representation, political campaigns, and legislative policies. Hill's argument that the United States should change its electoral arrangement to a proportional system is convincing, but the narrative style and "cute" phrasing (e.g., Bushlandia) is not only awkward but detracts from the seriousness of the subject. The book contains an excellent bibliography and notes section. Academic libraries with strong political science collections may want to add this title to their collections. Others may prefer books that are easier to understand, such as Frances Fox Piven and Richard A. Cloward's Why American's Don't Vote or Why American's Still Don't Vote: And Why Politicians Want It That Way. Joyce Cox, Nevada State Lib. and Archives, Reno
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Fixing Elections is a provocative reminder that we desperately need to re-invigorate our democracy." -- Lani Guinier, author and law professor, Harvard University

"Fixing Elections is one of the most penetrating and devastating critiques of American electoral politics I have ever read." -- Richard DeLeon, political scientist, San Francisco State Univ. and author of

"Fixing Elections is the most important book on American democracy that has come out in many years." -- Michael Lind, author,

"Here's the eye-opening news from Steven Hill's new book: our 'winner-take-all' system is making losers of us all." -- Hendrik Hertzberg, Senior Editor,

"In this powerfully argued and engaging book, Steven Hill demonstrates how our Winner-Take-All system produces highly undemocratic results." -- Robert Dahl, political scientist, Yale University, author of

"Steven Hill is making the case for real reform of America's decayed democracy." -- William Greider, author

"Steven Hill is making the case for real reform of America's decayed democracy." -- William Greider, author,

"Steven Hill's 'Fixing Elections' is the most important book on American democracy that has come out in many years." -- Michael Lind, author

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (June 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415931932
• ISBN-13: 978-0415931939
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,875,748 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner Take All P, August 1, 2002

By A Customer

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!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS BOOK!!! A real eye opener!, July 26, 2002

By A Customer

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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most amazing book, July 20, 2002

By A Customer

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.