Felix Ling
@perfectlygoodink.bsky.social
Libertarian from Cal married to a Green from Stanford raising 2 boys.
Californians for #ElectoralReform CFO and Secretary.
#ProRep Coalition Treasurer
Financial Advisor.
Econ. background but enjoys reading PoliSci research. #ProportionalRepresentation
Californians for #ElectoralReform CFO and Secretary.
#ProRep Coalition Treasurer
Financial Advisor.
Econ. background but enjoys reading PoliSci research. #ProportionalRepresentation
With the government shutdown "preventing" the jobs report, investors are predictably turning to private alternatives.
And predictably, they are *confirming* the weakening labor market that led Trump to fire Erika McEntarfar at BLS.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
And predictably, they are *confirming* the weakening labor market that led Trump to fire Erika McEntarfar at BLS.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
October 3, 2025 at 3:58 PM
With the government shutdown "preventing" the jobs report, investors are predictably turning to private alternatives.
And predictably, they are *confirming* the weakening labor market that led Trump to fire Erika McEntarfar at BLS.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
And predictably, they are *confirming* the weakening labor market that led Trump to fire Erika McEntarfar at BLS.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Quite predictably, the party in power gets blamed for government shutdowns, and in this case they control all three branches.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
October 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Quite predictably, the party in power gets blamed for government shutdowns, and in this case they control all three branches.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
I simply prefer large sample sizes as a better way to draw conclusions and avoid the tendency to cherry-pick the most vivid examples.
Regarding both Italy and Israel, I think @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social made a good case that you want to avoid both too few and too many parties. (1/3)
Regarding both Italy and Israel, I think @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social made a good case that you want to avoid both too few and too many parties. (1/3)
September 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I simply prefer large sample sizes as a better way to draw conclusions and avoid the tendency to cherry-pick the most vivid examples.
Regarding both Italy and Israel, I think @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social made a good case that you want to avoid both too few and too many parties. (1/3)
Regarding both Italy and Israel, I think @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social made a good case that you want to avoid both too few and too many parties. (1/3)
Unlike the US, Israel's problems are created by external forces instead of internal.
Plus, if you look at a larger sample size, PR on the whole outperforms two-party countries (particularly in regards to polarization and political violence).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
Plus, if you look at a larger sample size, PR on the whole outperforms two-party countries (particularly in regards to polarization and political violence).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
September 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Unlike the US, Israel's problems are created by external forces instead of internal.
Plus, if you look at a larger sample size, PR on the whole outperforms two-party countries (particularly in regards to polarization and political violence).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
Plus, if you look at a larger sample size, PR on the whole outperforms two-party countries (particularly in regards to polarization and political violence).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
Making America more like China. When youth unemployment in China became political inconvenient, they stopped reporting it.
With inflation still rising and the job market significantly slowing, the US is stopping hunger statistics.
Very ominous.
www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
With inflation still rising and the job market significantly slowing, the US is stopping hunger statistics.
Very ominous.
www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
September 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Making America more like China. When youth unemployment in China became political inconvenient, they stopped reporting it.
With inflation still rising and the job market significantly slowing, the US is stopping hunger statistics.
Very ominous.
www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
With inflation still rising and the job market significantly slowing, the US is stopping hunger statistics.
Very ominous.
www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
And France uses a two-round majoritarian system, not PR.
Regarding extremism, political scientist @leedrutman.bsky.social has a great Twitter thread here on the topic:
x.com/leedrutman/s...
Regarding extremism, political scientist @leedrutman.bsky.social has a great Twitter thread here on the topic:
x.com/leedrutman/s...
September 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
And France uses a two-round majoritarian system, not PR.
Regarding extremism, political scientist @leedrutman.bsky.social has a great Twitter thread here on the topic:
x.com/leedrutman/s...
Regarding extremism, political scientist @leedrutman.bsky.social has a great Twitter thread here on the topic:
x.com/leedrutman/s...
Multiparty countries do very well on a variety of metrics of a country's health, whether you look at the EIU's Democracy Index, V-Dem preferred by political scientists, Chandler's Good Governance, etc.
What is your preferred metric for the health of a country?
What is your preferred metric for the health of a country?
September 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Multiparty countries do very well on a variety of metrics of a country's health, whether you look at the EIU's Democracy Index, V-Dem preferred by political scientists, Chandler's Good Governance, etc.
What is your preferred metric for the health of a country?
What is your preferred metric for the health of a country?
I grew up in the 70s and remember the long lines for gas stations and high inflation. It's a reason I studied econ and a reason I followed the story about Erdogan calling for lower rates despite high inflation in Turkey.
Scary to see attacks on central bank independence here.
Scary to see attacks on central bank independence here.
August 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I grew up in the 70s and remember the long lines for gas stations and high inflation. It's a reason I studied econ and a reason I followed the story about Erdogan calling for lower rates despite high inflation in Turkey.
Scary to see attacks on central bank independence here.
Scary to see attacks on central bank independence here.
That's because they didn't foresee a two-party system which ensures one party controls at least 2/3 branches.
Many of the Founders hated political parties altogether and didn't expect them to form (perhaps not realizing they were inevitable due to economies of scale).
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social
Many of the Founders hated political parties altogether and didn't expect them to form (perhaps not realizing they were inevitable due to economies of scale).
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
That's because they didn't foresee a two-party system which ensures one party controls at least 2/3 branches.
Many of the Founders hated political parties altogether and didn't expect them to form (perhaps not realizing they were inevitable due to economies of scale).
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social
Many of the Founders hated political parties altogether and didn't expect them to form (perhaps not realizing they were inevitable due to economies of scale).
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social
Cross-country analysis shows that, to get more viable parties, aim to increase the district magnitude (i.e., #ProportionalRepresentation) and/or assembly size.
But better winner-take-all methods lik RCV/STAR/Approval can also help by strengthening alternative parties.
jstor.org/stable/2939053
But better winner-take-all methods lik RCV/STAR/Approval can also help by strengthening alternative parties.
jstor.org/stable/2939053
August 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Cross-country analysis shows that, to get more viable parties, aim to increase the district magnitude (i.e., #ProportionalRepresentation) and/or assembly size.
But better winner-take-all methods lik RCV/STAR/Approval can also help by strengthening alternative parties.
jstor.org/stable/2939053
But better winner-take-all methods lik RCV/STAR/Approval can also help by strengthening alternative parties.
jstor.org/stable/2939053
Yes, @mathintee.bsky.social has a great book on its history, detailing how it injects a great deal of randomness without helping small states at all.
Fun fact, EC supporters saw it as closest they could get to a popular vote against the main competing proposal -- a parliamentary system!
Fun fact, EC supporters saw it as closest they could get to a popular vote against the main competing proposal -- a parliamentary system!
July 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Yes, @mathintee.bsky.social has a great book on its history, detailing how it injects a great deal of randomness without helping small states at all.
Fun fact, EC supporters saw it as closest they could get to a popular vote against the main competing proposal -- a parliamentary system!
Fun fact, EC supporters saw it as closest they could get to a popular vote against the main competing proposal -- a parliamentary system!
Indeed, I spend most of my free time advocating for electoral reforms that would break up the duopoly to create a multi-party system as in most modern democracies, particularly in Europe.
That would provide fair representation, not just to Libertarians, but also Greens, women, minorities, etc.
That would provide fair representation, not just to Libertarians, but also Greens, women, minorities, etc.
July 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Indeed, I spend most of my free time advocating for electoral reforms that would break up the duopoly to create a multi-party system as in most modern democracies, particularly in Europe.
That would provide fair representation, not just to Libertarians, but also Greens, women, minorities, etc.
That would provide fair representation, not just to Libertarians, but also Greens, women, minorities, etc.
And oh, how I wish we had your system. I'm a big fan of @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social book that argues for three Constitutional Amendments that would make us a multi-party parliamentary system.
July 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
And oh, how I wish we had your system. I'm a big fan of @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social book that argues for three Constitutional Amendments that would make us a multi-party parliamentary system.
Pick your preferred metric of the health of a country (whether EIU's Democracy Index, V-Dem favored by political scientists, Chandler's Good Governance Index, etc.), and I'm willing to bet that PR countries do very well on it.
July 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Pick your preferred metric of the health of a country (whether EIU's Democracy Index, V-Dem favored by political scientists, Chandler's Good Governance Index, etc.), and I'm willing to bet that PR countries do very well on it.
As I see it, the biggest obstacle to alternative parties is the need to finish first in an election in order to win a seat.
Multi-party countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden have plenty of minor parties in office, even though those small parties can't support a chief executive either.
Multi-party countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden have plenty of minor parties in office, even though those small parties can't support a chief executive either.
July 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
As I see it, the biggest obstacle to alternative parties is the need to finish first in an election in order to win a seat.
Multi-party countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden have plenty of minor parties in office, even though those small parties can't support a chief executive either.
Multi-party countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden have plenty of minor parties in office, even though those small parties can't support a chief executive either.
Yes, implementing a multi-party system in the California state legislature via #ProportionalRepresentation is exactly what
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social is working towards. Join us!
www.prorepcoalition.org/get-involved
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social is working towards. Join us!
www.prorepcoalition.org/get-involved
July 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Yes, implementing a multi-party system in the California state legislature via #ProportionalRepresentation is exactly what
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social is working towards. Join us!
www.prorepcoalition.org/get-involved
@prorepcoalition.bsky.social is working towards. Join us!
www.prorepcoalition.org/get-involved
Well, there is *some* evidence on reducing polarization:
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
And although this is just correlation, the top countries in various indices of democratic health do tend to be PR countries across multiple continents (e.g., EIU, V-Dem).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
And although this is just correlation, the top countries in various indices of democratic health do tend to be PR countries across multiple continents (e.g., EIU, V-Dem).
July 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Well, there is *some* evidence on reducing polarization:
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
And although this is just correlation, the top countries in various indices of democratic health do tend to be PR countries across multiple continents (e.g., EIU, V-Dem).
protectdemocracy.org/work/proport...
And although this is just correlation, the top countries in various indices of democratic health do tend to be PR countries across multiple continents (e.g., EIU, V-Dem).
I guess even here, some people have trouble handling disagreement even when presented in a civil and polite manner. Too bad for them.
June 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I guess even here, some people have trouble handling disagreement even when presented in a civil and polite manner. Too bad for them.
"Since around the 60s, almost every single war in the Middle East came after a moment of... the top fossil fuel companies doing worse than the average Fortune 500 company."
youtu.be/SzryRhH79Cc?...
And crude oil prices just hit a 3-year low this past April.
youtu.be/SzryRhH79Cc?...
And crude oil prices just hit a 3-year low this past April.
June 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Since around the 60s, almost every single war in the Middle East came after a moment of... the top fossil fuel companies doing worse than the average Fortune 500 company."
youtu.be/SzryRhH79Cc?...
And crude oil prices just hit a 3-year low this past April.
youtu.be/SzryRhH79Cc?...
And crude oil prices just hit a 3-year low this past April.
Indeed, "The West Wing" was inspired greatly by "The American President."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wes...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wes...
June 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Indeed, "The West Wing" was inspired greatly by "The American President."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wes...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wes...
But suffice to say that I agree wholeheartedly with your main point that the US system is crazy.
Constitutional law professor @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social has a great book arguing that the real test of the quality of an institution is how widely it is copied.
And *nobody* emulates our system.
Constitutional law professor @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social has a great book arguing that the real test of the quality of an institution is how widely it is copied.
And *nobody* emulates our system.
June 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
But suffice to say that I agree wholeheartedly with your main point that the US system is crazy.
Constitutional law professor @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social has a great book arguing that the real test of the quality of an institution is how widely it is copied.
And *nobody* emulates our system.
Constitutional law professor @maxwell-stearns.bsky.social has a great book arguing that the real test of the quality of an institution is how widely it is copied.
And *nobody* emulates our system.
Indeed, #ProportionalRepresentation would have prevented much of this misbehavior AND better accomplished the goals of many of the Founders.
June 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Indeed, #ProportionalRepresentation would have prevented much of this misbehavior AND better accomplished the goals of many of the Founders.
Agreed cost of living was greater impact, and in a two-party system, this also just helped Trump -- despite his own role in causing the inflation by appointing Jerome Powell as Fed chair as well as his own pandemic stimulus.
www.ft.com/content/e8ac...
www.ft.com/content/e8ac...
May 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Agreed cost of living was greater impact, and in a two-party system, this also just helped Trump -- despite his own role in causing the inflation by appointing Jerome Powell as Fed chair as well as his own pandemic stimulus.
www.ft.com/content/e8ac...
www.ft.com/content/e8ac...
#ProportionalRepresentation (e.g., MMP, list-PR, or PRCV). Cross-country empirical evidence shows that, to get a multi-party system, you'll want multi-winner districts (or to increase the assembly size).
See jstor.org/stable/2939053 or the book "Votes from Seats."
See jstor.org/stable/2939053 or the book "Votes from Seats."
May 15, 2025 at 3:22 PM
#ProportionalRepresentation (e.g., MMP, list-PR, or PRCV). Cross-country empirical evidence shows that, to get a multi-party system, you'll want multi-winner districts (or to increase the assembly size).
See jstor.org/stable/2939053 or the book "Votes from Seats."
See jstor.org/stable/2939053 or the book "Votes from Seats."
And yes, when no single party has majority power, this means policy-making requires compromise and coalition-making, which can be a lengthy process.
This is *far* preferable to a minority running roughshod over the preferences of everybody else, like what's going on here right now. (2/2)
This is *far* preferable to a minority running roughshod over the preferences of everybody else, like what's going on here right now. (2/2)
May 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And yes, when no single party has majority power, this means policy-making requires compromise and coalition-making, which can be a lengthy process.
This is *far* preferable to a minority running roughshod over the preferences of everybody else, like what's going on here right now. (2/2)
This is *far* preferable to a minority running roughshod over the preferences of everybody else, like what's going on here right now. (2/2)