| Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:33 PM |
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Gustav85
Posts: 123
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Ok, my history lacks on when it was implimented...but electoral college was established for people to have elected officals to vote for them, because they were not knowledgeable on canidates...anyways...do you believe they should do away with it in favor of popular vote which makes perfect sense...
So, my belief...is to have popular vote over electoral college espically in presidential elections...I think its kind of unfair to have a challenger win the white house if he don't win the popular vote...which leads to the Bush vs Gore in 00...
So you have red and blue states...and elected officals vote along the popular lines...but states with more members of congress matter more than popular vote...
I'm tired so my argument lacks...lol...but feel free to chime in!
Gustav
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:48 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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Gustav,
The Electorial College was a compromise between those who wanted universal suffrage and those who felt they knew better than everyone else. Of course, the Founding Fathers threw women and black folks into the "we know better than they do" pile.
As I have mentioned on other posts, the balance of powers is both on a macro and micro level. The Electoral College was to also balance out the difference in population between states. Which begs the question, if fewer people want to live in Alabama than New York, why should the rest of us be held hostage to them?
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:52 PM |
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Gustav85
Posts: 123
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Popular...i'm not talking about states now, i'l talking about a nation as a whole and the total popular vote chooses the elected president in that means...meaning there is no sub-division among states but as a country...
Gustav
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:54 PM |
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spongebob777
Posts: 7,904
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The electoral college doesn't always give you what you want but it does give you a fighting chance.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:59 PM |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,154
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Of course, the Founding Fathers threw women and black folks into the "we know better than they do" pile.
And exactly, specifically how could you possibly know that without any doubt what so ever?
S
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 8:14 PM |
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Strandedboarder
Posts: 440
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I would agree that the Electoral College is of no use.
As eastham said, there was a dispute as to how the president should be elected. The idea was that each state would determine its own method for selecting electors. So one state could have the state legislature appoint them and another state could decide to have electors elected by the people.
Since every state now elects the electors, it's a system that no longer serves a purpose. I say toss it.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 8:19 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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Read the Federalist Papers. In short, because women didn't have the vote and black folks were 3/5 of a human being, Seal! If you try to argue this shows how merciful old white guys can be, I will pull out a virtual cast-iron frying pan and cleave you into two pieces.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 8:23 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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Let us remember oh Stranded one....Al Gore would be your president, not the Shrub, who lost out on the popular vote in 2000.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 8:32 PM |
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uab_5
Posts: 2,371
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If it weren't for Electoral College, why should someone in Alabama even bother voting in the Presidential election? 
The current moron-in-chief  was placed in power partially because my home state's majority voted for him.
The Electoral College balances out the power between the greater and lesser populated states. 
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 8:36 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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You're right UAB. Look at the campaign schedule in the few weeks until the election. No one goes to small states anymore. The exception was Clinton went to Connecticut on the evening before the election, because JFK did. My mother was at the JFK rally, in the freezing cold and not too long after giving birth to me. She can still feel the drums of the Mattatuck Fife and Drum in her feet. If you know your Presidential inaugural parades...Kennedy promised that Mattatuck would lead his inaugural parade if they won, and they did. They did for Clinton as well. The ground just shakes from miles away.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 9:14 PM |
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Strandedboarder
Posts: 440
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"Al Gore would be your president"
Yeah, as dumb a system as it is, it really saved our asses there!
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 9:18 PM |
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Novalite
Posts: 3,110
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I think it is good as it stops agenda driven groups from taking over. For example, you could have a candidate running on a platform of taxing smaller states more and larger ones less. Giving him or her a one agenda shoe in. It also demands that smaller state be given attention that they would not get without this method.
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 9:33 PM |
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Gustav85
Posts: 123
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Example:
TX is always a republician state, what about people who don't vote for republician in that state? Their vote don't count...
New Jersey is a democrat state...if state goes blue, the republician votes have no count...even if it came to 47% to 53%
That example is good enough... 
Gustav
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| Jan 13, 2007 @ 10:05 PM |
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Novalite
Posts: 3,110
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Not good enough. Majority rule, and, each state is of importence to the Presidential candidate, no matter who wins. As for their vote not counting, it certainly does not in the national presidential end of things however, regionally it does with representatin in congress and the senate.
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 10:12 AM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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Not a big fan of the Electoral College, as I do believe it was a compromise with those initial Founding Fathers who wanted to limit dramatically the number of voters. That said, throughtout a modern presidential campaign the focus is always on those states with big pots of electoral college votes -- CA, TX, OH, FL, etc. If we were to do away with the Electoral College, I'm not sure we would reinvigorate candidate's interests in small states like Idaho or Alaska.
And slightly off topic, I think that any election reform should also include an major overhaul of the primary system. I think that the current system ends too early and gives a disadvantage to the early frontrunner, who may not be the best person for the long haul. What I find really interesting are the enormous differences between not only states but between parties within each state. In NY, it is far more difficult for a dark horse Republican to get onto the ballot. Not the same for the Democratic primary. Bob Dole worked the system to his advantage and surging candidates like Forbes never had a chance.
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 10:35 AM |
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irish20835
Posts: 1,224
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"Al Gore would be your president"
Yeah, as dumb a system as it is, it really saved our asses there!
\
enough said
if the college was done away with those people in such cities as des moines ,ia
bute mt, rapid city sd...would fall victim to those that vote in nyc..la...chicago ...miami ...denver, atlanta.. boston ...ect ....
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 10:37 AM |
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Novalite
Posts: 3,110
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Long as you speak of reform, I belive that a runoff system could be incorporated with say three votes over a month long period. If anything would do away with the two party monopoly, I believe that would be it.
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 3:18 PM |
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jamminjerry
Posts: 3,780
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duh!!! we are a capitalistic society! money talks and conservatives & liberals walk! LOL
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 5:06 PM |
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Always_Striving
Posts: 7,598
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do you believe they should do away with it in favor of popular vote
Yes we should, so that the appoint people representing us won't be brided or coerced/ threatened to vote against the will of the people by societies Riff-Raff and corrupted special interest groups or even corrupt politicians playing "dirty pool".
People are educated enough to make their own decisions and if I had my way I would dismiss the Electoral College and make it a subject for history books.
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| Jan 14, 2007 @ 6:12 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,354
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While run-offs may work in smaller venues, i.e. a state or Congressional office, strictly from fiscal standpoint, I do not know if it is feasible to do it nationally. And in any event, while the elimination of the Electoral College would be a national event and an amendment to the constitution to boot, the vast majority of election law is from state and local governments, not the federal government.
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