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Monday, November 14, 2016

The Electoral College Still Makes Sense Because We’re Not A Democracy

The Electoral College has been on life support since a chad—specifically a “hanging” chad—tipped the White House to George W. Bush in 2000. The painful reality of how our Constitution works was never more apparent. The Gore/Lieberman ticket won the popular vote 50,994,086 to 50,461,092 but lost the electoral vote 266 to 271.

There was a lot more to it, but the punchline is that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Bush the winner because he won the electoral vote. It’s a tribute to the American national character that we weathered that cataclysm without civil war, but it left a bad taste in the electorate’s mouth.

During the 2016 Republican primary, when it looked as if Donald Trump would win the popular vote but still not reach the delegate threshold for nomination, that bad taste turned sour. Riding high on populism and “throw the bums out,” Trump complained that the election was rigged because the people wanted him, and whomever the people wanted, they should get. Fortunately for the country, Trump reached the delegate threshold, and we were spared a debacle that would have made 2000’s cataclysm look like a lemonade stand.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

the government schools are not teaching this anymore. they haven't taught this topic for many years, hence the current crop of idiotic snowflakes...I doubt the current teachers know anything regarding this topic. soooooooo.

Anonymous said...

They have 3 million votes from illegals so Trump did win the popular vote.

Anonymous said...

7:44, And don't forget the dead people vote and one person/multiple votes.

Shavoxgal said...

If your do not want states like New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California electing our presidents, than keep the Electoral College.

Anonymous said...

But if they disguarded the illegal votes and counted the military votes that arrived late because of the postal service, Gore would have got far less votes and probably lost the popular vote.

Anonymous said...

To my mind, the electoral vote is the way to go. For every so many thousand people there's one electoral + one for each Senator from that state.
They are bound by the popular vote. It's really simple if you think about it. An electoral vote is a popular vote.

Anonymous said...

"If your do not want states like New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California electing our presidents, than keep the Electoral College." Absolutely why we must keep it. Our state can show us what not having it would mean. Our popular vote is determined by a few heavily populated counties on the western shore. The rest don't stand a chance. Luckily the "college" prevents that on a national level.

Anonymous said...

We Losing our rights more and more all the time
Someday America will be Communist
It is inevitable so sad but only a matter of time....

Right now it is communism in Disguise anyway ...
We are All Working Slaves and are Not Free
The Gov just wants you to think you are....Wake Up !!!!

If we don't get better leaders we are Dooomed !!!

Russia and China just waiting to take us over someday !!!

Anonymous said...

1:30 pm >> that is a FACT >>> well said.....