End the Electoral College

[Luddly Neddite]

Column: End the electoral college

Vladimir Putin had an election in Russia. This week, Hugo Chavez had one in Venezuela. Last spring, Nicholas Sarkozy lost one in France.

In each case, the outcome was decided by the majority of voters in their country. Such direct democracy is a foreign concept in the USA, where we require neither direct voting nor a majority to lead our nation. The reason is an arcane institution: the Electoral College.

 

[Againsheila]

Column: End the electoral college

Vladimir Putin had an election in Russia. This week, Hugo Chavez had one in Venezuela. Last spring, Nicholas Sarkozy lost one in France.

In each case, the outcome was decided by the majority of voters in their country. Such direct democracy is a foreign concept in the USA, where we require neither direct voting nor a majority to lead our nation. The reason is an arcane institution: the Electoral College.

We don't live in a democracy, we live in a republic, without the electoral college, our POTUS would be free to ignore most midwestern states. In fact, IMO, the electoral college should be redone and each state should get ONE. That way, we won't be spending all our time watching OHIO, while ignoring Nebraska.