Reform the Electoral College

Strut&Rut · 01-09-2008, 08:33 PM

I think we should reform the system. I say this, because after doing some research, it's possible that a candidate can win 11 states, and take the presidency.

The Founding Fathers adopted the Electoral College, because they were afraid one populous state could tip the scales, and hence they chose to use electors for each state instead of the popular vote. This, in theory, gave states "equal" voting power.

However, because the original system was designed to have the same number of electors as congressman, the balance has been extremely shifted.

I think we should do the following: Each state gets 2 electors, and Washington DC earns 1. That equal 101, and then every state will have a FAIR input on electing the President, and 51 wins the crown...

And for all of you that think this may be "Bush bashing", realize that this is the exact opposite. Under this system, the results in Florida would not have mattered, because Gore only captured 19 states---Florida would have been #20.

Because population growth is stimulated in some states, and repressed or stagnant in others, the electoral college has been unfairly imbalanced. I say we balance the system, and get back to "Fair Representation"...

Aught Six · 01-09-2008, 08:57 PM

Keep the Electoral College intact. The Founders were right the first time around. Some states should have more weight, just not overwhelmingly s.

shepdogwv · 01-09-2008, 09:36 PM

I agree, if we really wanted to fix somethings it should be our current party system which there ain't much chance at. I also think we should have a national primary because that's really where the big decisions are made for the presidential election, by the time we get to the general election over half the people in the country are just voting for the lesser of two evils. Atleast with a national primary everyone who wants to have a chance will get a chance throughout the country, instead of having to drop out after 1 state.

Big Duane · 01-09-2008, 09:51 PM

Strut&Rut why should a state with 20 million people have no more voting power than a state with 2.5 million ?

Fieldmouse · 01-10-2008, 02:33 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Aught Six

Keep the Electoral College intact. The Founders were right the first time around. Some states should have more weight, just not overwhelmingly s.

I agree. I would also add you have absolutely no right to vote in this country! The only reason your allowed to vote is because your state allows you to do so. It can/could be removed and/or modified whenever they see fit.

FYI, you want changes, you work for them in your own state first.

Phil from Maine · 01-10-2008, 02:49 AM

Why shouldn't we get rid of it altogether and go with popular vote? Bush would not have made it in ..
More people wouldmore say when it comes to choosing a president..

Big Duane · 01-10-2008, 04:54 AM

Phil - good gawd ........ we do NOT live in a Democracy ! THATS WHY !

kevin1 · 01-10-2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Big Duane

Phil - good gawd ........ we do NOT live in a Democracy ! THATS WHY !

That's right, we live in a representational republic.

The largest problem I have with the EC is that it's based on population, since a state with a larger population gets more electoral votes the smaller state doesn't get represented fairly. I've aways felt that each state should have a single vote, which ensures that they have equal say in the election. If one state has 28 votes to your one your wishes will never be considered. The EC was supposed to level the playing field, which it most certainly has not. One of our most treasured documents clearly states that all men are created equal, so no state should have more sway over the election process than any other simply because they have more residents, all should be considered equally. A candidate receiving the most popular votes in a given state should win that state because he/she was chosen by the citizenry rather than some appointee, the candidate winning the most states would therefore represent the choice of the majority of all citizens . If each state had one vote, and the District of Columbia had one, any tie could be simply resolved instead of reliving that Algore induced nightmare we suffered through in 2K.

Champlain Islander · 01-10-2008, 06:54 AM

I would rather see election by popular vote which would IMO mean every vote counts. I don't see where the size of the state has anything to do with who is elected to serve the people...all of the people. Each registered voter all across the country gets one vote period. Who ever gets the popular vote is elected.

Big Duane · 01-10-2008, 07:12 AM

hell lets scrap the whole system we have and popular vote EVERYTHING then why don't we ?