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Yes, I suppose they can be blamed for not doing something like that when they get a 49.8% mandate. It would also alienate half their voter base, because it actually believes in the systems and due process.

(We can also blame them for not imprisoning, quicky and fairly trying, and executing Trump for sedition and treason when they could.)

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The thing is that numbers like 49.8% are meaningless because the current system simply does not result in government that is representative of people's interests. There are large numbers of people who don't vote because they feel their vote doesn't matter, and they're right.

An amazing reform that could be achieved is changing to ranked choice voting from the current first-past-the-post. It'll reduce the incentive for politicians to be radical to stand out, and reassures voters that they won't 'waste their vote' if they put an alternative candidate first.

I once thought this was the solution too, then NYC's ranked-choice mayoral race gave it Eric Adams. Now I don't know. Maybe open primaries?

Ranked choice was the error. You want one of the cardinal voting systems like STAR.

I don't think ranked choice voting particularly helps preventing corrupt politicians. It mostly diminishes the incentive to be an extremist.

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