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Why the Electoral College is Bullshit Email Print

By Onward Zapatista
06/26/2006 02:35:44 PM EST

Why the Electoral College is Bullshit

When Jefferson and his collegues were framing our constitution, certain concessions had to be made in order to appease concerns over the balance of power between large and small states. A bicameral legislature was once compromise as was the electoral college. My Dad always told me the electoral college was important because it gave America's bread basket a voice in elections; because if those low-density states don't have a voice, the high density states won't have food.

I'm just going ape shit over this archaic interpretation, quite simply.
I shall breakdown this shit.

Alright, the first assumption the argument makes is that presidential elections levy a huge potential for change in any state. A second and greater assumption is made, but will be discussed later. the problem with this first assumption is that the president's power does nut dilleniate along state lines, it trancends them. The greater assumption is that the modern issue remains a state versus state power struggle, or even democrat - republican  squabbles. Today, the constraints and faults of the electoral college system lie in a struggle of influence over national affairs between the few and the many.

Moreover, the apology to the electoral college is redudant; states already have representation in the federal government in Congress. They also have their own state legislatures that controll domestic issues. The addition of even more cushion to the state vs. state tuggle by the electoral college seems a bit weighty. For presidential elections, there must be a change in methods that reflect more accurate and justified standards. A new paradigm of majority will and vision versus a concentrated influence should be  recognized. Finally, fault is easily seen in the system's winner take all outcome, which nullifies the voice of individual votes.

Who the hell is the electoral college anyway? I don't know any of 'em, do you?


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Why the Electoral College is Bullshit | 2 comments (2 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
A little historical perspective (none / 0)
Thomas Jefferson had nothing to do with the framing of the Constitution.  He was minister to France during that period.  His only engagement with the Constitutional Convention were a couple of letters that he exchanged with his friend James Madison, who was hugely involved in framing the Constitution.  In fact, when Jefferson heard about the Electoral College system, he thought it was a disaster waiting to happen.

The framers were very impressed with the College of Cardinals that elected the pope, and they thought they were creating something akin to that.  They were deluded.

At the time of the writing of the Constitution, only white male landholders were permitted to vote, so the Electoral College arose in the midst of a system that was not fully democratic.

Under our quaint system, when you and I go to the polls, we actually do not vote for, say, John Kerry or George Bush.  We actually vote for a slate of electors sworn to vote for John Kerry or George Bush.  The electors are party hacks that the Democrats and Republicans reward for faithful service to the party.  This system has two advantages to the parties: (1) to reward the hacks; and (2) to guarantee that electors don't stray from the reservation.

All of that being said, events of recent years have proven was a dismal failure the Electoral College is.  But since amendments to the Constitution (thanksfully) require three-quarters of the states to concur, we are stuck with it.  The small states that get outsizes influence in selecting a president are not going to chuck their influence by voting for the dismantling of the Electoral College.

Since you are a student of the Electoral College, you probably are aware of a movement among certain large states to cast their electoral votes for whoever wins the national popular vote and thus circumvent the problem of a president not chosen by the people.

by DCDemocrat on 06/27/2006 05:18:49 AM EST

Awesome. (none / 0)
Cool. I wrote this pretty outta my mind, but I guess it came out reasonably coherent....

Didn't know about Jefferson, or the 'movement' by large states. Good to know though.

by Onward Zapatista on 06/27/2006 02:26:10 PM EST

Why the Electoral College is Bullshit | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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