Schwarzenegger fights for democracy: A plan for the USA!

Schwarzenegger fights for democracy: A plan for the USA!

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently expressed concern about the state of democracy in the United States and presented a solution that amounts to a three-point plan. On the HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” he called for the United States to follow European examples of democracy. Schwarzenegger, who is a member of the Republican Party along with Donald Trump, highlights the differences in the two's political views. While Schwarzenegger calls for more dialogue, Trump is known for insulting his opponents. According to oe24, Schwarzenegger sees the need to actively protect democracy and suggests that Congress should act.

In his plan, which he calls the "Save Democracy Act," Schwarzenegger proposes an Election Day observance as a holiday to increase voter turnout. Traditionally, elections in the United States take place on a Tuesday, which is often a working day. He also calls for a fair redistricting of constituencies by independent commissions in order to combat the problem of the well-known “gerrymandering”. Finally, he would like to discuss the introduction of a voter ID card to identify voters when voting.

Gerrymandering and its effects

The phenomenon of gerrymandering, in which electoral districts are drawn in favor of a particular political party, is a central topic in US political discussions. For example, in Florida, the strategy of building strongholds and so-called “cracking” is often used to minimize the influence of the Democrats. A study has shown that only about 1 in 15 seats in the House of Representatives offers both major parties a chance of victory. The apportionment of electoral districts is usually done every ten years after a census, although the methods vary widely between states. In some states, independent commissions operate, while other legislatures determine electoral districts. These manipulative practices mean that votes are not counted equally, which endangers individual electoral equality.

In many states, such as Mississippi, the problem of gerrymanding is particularly evident. Despite a large population of African-Americans who tend to vote Democratic, the party has little influence on political decisions in Mississippi because districts are designed to dilute the black vote. Jarvis Dortch, head of the ACLU of Mississippi, and other civil rights activists criticize black voter suppression and the historical effects of segregation that influence today's electoral system.

The future of voting in the USA

Arnold Schwarzenegger highlights that a large majority of the population, namely 74% of citizens, want Election Day to be a holiday, 75% see gerrymandering as a serious problem, and 83% support requiring ID for voters. The figures he presents are worrying and underline the need for change in the electoral system. While he calls on Congress to act to address these issues, Trump expresses skepticism about democracy in Europe. Schwarzenegger advocates for cooperation between Republicans and Democrats in the hope that it can also pave the way to a better energy future.

Overall, it is clear that the state of current election decisions and the way gerrymandering is handled in the USA needs to be fundamentally reformed. Schwarzenegger's approach, which aims at fair and transparent electoral democracy, could be important for both Republicans and Democrats. In this way, American society could not only increase voter turnout, but also strengthen the integrity of democracy.