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The whole purpose of the Electoral College was to thwart the will of the people.
No. That's not exactly correct. The whole purpose of the Electoral College was an extension of federalism, which the Anti-Federalists wanted, and which has long served us well against direct democracy. I would recommend reading Herbert J. Storing's volumes on the Anti-Federalists to familiarize one with the purposes and aims of them.
IMO, if we are going to stick with the EC, then we need to get rid of the
"winner takes all" in most states.
So then why not a direct democracy?IMO, if we are going to stick with the EC, then we need to get rid of the
Split the EC votes up based on the percentage of the votes..
Oh, yeah. But "if" then we have to go to root causes.The reason for my "IF"
not my expertise.. I just think having all the EC votes go to the winner of the state is ridiculous..
Agreed. Never. It depresses poll turnout and makes people like even me not vote. It doesn't matter. Great point, I'm just not sure how to address it. Finer minds than mine haven't been able to...
When's the last time a Republican vote for president mattered in California.. 1984?? How about New York?
When's the last time a Democrat vote for president mattered in Texas?
It's the "will of the people" that troubles me as a poli sci guy. The will of the people was encoded in the Constitution by its very structure, both by Federalists and Anti-Federalists. That's why I chimed in. Again, you're not wrong about the people's will, but the people's will was decided a long time ago, and for a good reason. We'd have two countries without. And, if I'm not mistaken, NY was very anti-federalist, which would be turned on its head today. We always advocate for the position of direct democracy when it benefits us, we think little of it when it doesn't. It also imbues itself in so many other life decisions...is it true democracy? Probably not. We're a republic. I know, I know, pedantry, but it seems thet pedantry is in order sometimes.
Agreed. Never. It depresses poll turnout and makes people like even me not vote. It doesn't matter. Great point, I'm just not sure how to address it. Finer minds than mine haven't been able to...
When's the last time a Republican vote for president mattered in California.. 1984?? How about New York?
When's the last time a Democrat vote for president mattered in Texas?
Seriously, not so much a debate as you raised a great point. I live in Cali and Conn and vote Republican. My vote is only a protest vote.
state of mind when it comes to the EC....
of the reaction of the people..
I don't think they'll vote Trump in the House. That's why the EC works, IMHO.Here is a scenario that should put most of us in a
Imagine Hillary gets most of the votes and most of the EC votes, but thanks to Gary Johnson winning a couple of states, she doesn't get enough EC votes to win the presidency.
It now goes to the House, and no matter how much most republicans don't like Trump, they dislike Hillary more and thus Trump becomes President.
Which undermines the idea behind the EC.IMO, if we are going to stick with the EC, then we need to get rid of the
Split the EC votes up based on the percentage of the votes..
well, as Gary said himself, that is his hope and plan..
I know you were speaking rhetorically, but California went for Bush in 1988. New York tabbed Reagan in 1984. Carter took Texas in 1976.
When's the last time a Republican vote for president mattered in California.. 1984?? How about New York?
When's the last time a Democrat vote for president mattered in Texas?
Me too. When I see things that are dictated by the will of the people - whether it be movies that get made or TV shows that get (or don't get) renewed to much-needed school referendums that can't get passed - I'm not so sure the will of the people is such a great thing sometimes.
