Not to change the subject....

Message 157 of 3047

.....but I am gathering information and opinions on the Electoral College (helping a certain favorite student do some research for a paper). Do you think the Electoral College an antiquated relic or does it actually reinforce the themes of the constitution? Is its endurance the only thing that protects us from popular vote/mob rule mentality? If we went to the popular vote, what would prevent wholesale vote buying? How would anyone not from a densely populated area ever get elected? How would we guard against small, special interest groups (again from densely populated areas) stealing elections?

I thought I was against the Electoral College, but now, having delved further into the subject, I see the wisdom of the institution. I also think that eliminating the Electoral College would have to entail further changes (senate, house, etc.)to the constitution. Flawed as it may seem (ie: why can't a state's popular vote be reflected in the Electoral college as opposed to the all or nothing system now in place), I think the Electoral College may be the (far) lesser of the evils than whatever would be devised to replace it. (Can you imagine the implications of voting machine corruption and hanging chads if national elections were dependent on popular votes?)

Any thoughts?

posted by SherriP

There has been so much written by professors of political science and political pundits on the matter that wouldn't they be a better source of information -- especially for a student doing research for a paper to turn in, presumably to be graded on?

Or is this a 'man on the street' project?

posted by GothamGal
about 1 month ago

I used to be opposed to the idea of it. But the rise of "talk radio", and then "talk TV", and then Sarah Palin has given me pause to re-think the issue. I used to think that all of America, except the Pentecostals, wanted their sons and daughters to get an education, and to do better in life. But now I think the "Know Nothing Party" has merged with the "Tupperware party", the "Avon party" and the "Naughty Secrets party" to spread pro-ignorance throughout the land.
If we are going to have a constitutional amendment, I favor one that strips all corporations and business entities of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Heck, strip them of all of the protections of the Bill of Rights except the one on "quartering soldiers".
Personally, I would strip churches of their tax-exempt status, but I don't think that one will pass.

posted by rsb1953
about 1 month ago

I agree with the percentage of vote instead of winner take all by state. That way you keep the electoral college and give everyone, even in solid red or blue sates, the incentive to vote.

posted by Cathiebeth
about 1 month ago

Walter Cronkite once likened the Electoral College to the human appendix:

"Completely worthless, potentially dangerous, and requires major surgery to remove."