Electoral College. Just why?

[Brian_1349]

The United States is the only country that elects a politically powerful president via an electoral college and the only one in which a candidate can become president without having obtained the highest number of votes in the sole or final round of popular voting.
—George C. Edwards, 2011

Why do we need to stick to outdated legislation when it comes to one of the most important political decisions in the life of the whole country? Why not popular vote? We believe in equality and democracy but for some reason let somebody decide the fate of of this country for us.

 

[Unkotare]

You really never studied Civics?

 

[there4eyeM]

This is a good question and the answer to it is 'to be anti-democratic'. The people who insist that America is a republic and not a democracy (a ludicrous and empty argument, granted) seem attached to preserving this archaic institution in order to memorialize their discontent with and distrust of democratic processes. They like to ignore that all other elected Federal offices are by direct vote. They like to ignore that the House, which holds the purse strings and thus (at least in theory, as was the intention) control of what the Federal Government can do, is the most democratic aspect of American government. It is entirely elected every two years. Why the individual who administers the funds allowed by this overwhelmingly democratically elected assembly should not in turn be elected by direct vote is without valid support.
Any historical sense it may have made hundreds of years ago has long since evaporated.

 

[cnm]

We believe in equality and democracy

No you don't. The Electoral College's specific job is to make sure there is not too much democracy.

 

[there4eyeM]

Voila!

 

[Sonny Clark]

The United States is the only country that elects a politically powerful president via an electoral college and the only one in which a candidate can become president without having obtained the highest number of votes in the sole or final round of popular voting.
—George C. Edwards, 2011

Why do we need to stick to outdated legislation when it comes to one of the most important political decisions in the life of the whole country? Why not popular vote? We believe in equality and democracy but for some reason let somebody decide the fate of of this country for us.

It's beyond me, other than maybe one side believing that it gives an advantage. In my opinion, it should be by popular vote. Also, it's believed that the higher the population of a state, the more votes that state deserves. It's almost like saying that the citizens in California deserve more say in government than those that live in North Dakota. Equal representation should mean exactly that, no exceptions. In my opinion, the whole political process is screwed up.

 

[Unkotare]

This is a good question and the answer to it is 'to be anti-democratic'. The people who insist that America is a republic and not a democracy (a ludicrous and empty argument, granted)...

??????????

You seem to have gotten a complete 'anti-education.'

 

[Unkotare]

It's almost like saying that the citizens in California deserve more say in government than those that live in North Dakota. Equal representation should mean exactly that, no exceptions....

You've got it all wrong.

 

[there4eyeM]

This is a good question and the answer to it is 'to be anti-democratic'. The people who insist that America is a republic and not a democracy (a ludicrous and empty argument, granted)...

??????????

You seem to have gotten a complete 'anti-education.'

What an uninformative and over-generalized response!

 

[cnm]

Here's one explanation...I guess it demonstrates the weakness of a Union.

Constitutional Topic: The Electoral College

Constitutional Topic The Electoral College - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net

The Framers were wary of giving the people the power to directly elect the President — some felt the citizenry too beholden to local interests, too easily duped by promises or shenanigans, or simply because a national election, in the time of oil lamps and quill pens, was just impractical. Some proposals gave the power to the Congress, but this did not sit well with those who wanted to see true separation of the branches of the new government. Still others felt the state legislatures should decide, but this was thought to make the President too beholden to state interests. The Electoral College, proposed by James Wilson, was the compromise that the Constitutional Convention reached.​

 

[Sonny Clark]

It's almost like saying that the citizens in California deserve more say in government than those that live in North Dakota. Equal representation should mean exactly that, no exceptions....

You've got it all wrong.

How so? Does California and North Dakota get the same electoral votes?

 

[Moonglow]

Yes, but the electoral college does not have to follow the popular vote.....

 

[cnm]

I don't think anyone would argue that a voting citizen in New Hampshire has more say in the government of the US than does a voting citizen in Texas.

 

[Sonny Clark]

It's almost like saying that the citizens in California deserve more say in government than those that live in North Dakota. Equal representation should mean exactly that, no exceptions....

You've got it all wrong.

 

[cnm]

Yes, but the electoral college does not have to follow the popular vote.....

Or any vote, does it? I mean that's its major point.

 

[Sonny Clark]

electoral votes by state map - Google Search

 

[JoeB131]

Why do we need to stick to outdated legislation when it comes to one of the most important political decisions in the life of the whole country? Why not popular vote? We believe in equality and democracy but for some reason let somebody decide the fate of of this country for us.

Because Republicans can't admit that George W. Bush was a huge mistake.

The electoral college is horrible. It distorts democracy.

 

[JoeB131]

You really never studied Civics?

Sure we did.

There's still no excuse for the Electoral College other than "But the Founding Slave Rapists said so".

 

[The Rabbi]

Why do we need to stick to outdated legislation when it comes to one of the most important political decisions in the life of the whole country? Why not popular vote? We believe in equality and democracy but for some reason let somebody decide the fate of of this country for us.

Because Republicans can't admit that George W. Bush was a huge mistake.

The electoral college is horrible. It distorts democracy.

Hater dupe.

 

[Roadrunner]

Here's one explanation...I guess it demonstrates the weakness of a Union.

Constitutional Topic: The Electoral College

Constitutional Topic The Electoral College - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net

The Framers were wary of giving the people the power to directly elect the President — some felt the citizenry too beholden to local interests, too easily duped by promises or shenanigans, or simply because a national election, in the time of oil lamps and quill pens, was just impractical. Some proposals gave the power to the Congress, but this did not sit well with those who wanted to see true separation of the branches of the new government. Still others felt the state legislatures should decide, but this was thought to make the President too beholden to state interests. The Electoral College, proposed by James Wilson, was the compromise that the Constitutional Convention reached.​

There goes that nasty "c" word again.

Constitution could never be adopted today, to many "c"s in it.