Every four years, especially, the issue of the Electoral College appears in American politics. This year, the matter is more important than ever as my research indicates four states have enacted laws which effectively end their voice in the Presidential election. To understand why, click on the link shown below.
After considerable debate, and based on a careful reading of history, the Founding Fathers decided on a system which would help insulate the Presidential selection process from demagoguery. That populations can be whipped into momentary frenzies is well-known by both historians and politicians. Witness what happened in the mid-term elections of 2002, little more than one year after the horrific events of September 11, 2001. In contrast to almost every mid-term election in history, the President's party actually picked up seats in Congress that year, returning the U.S. Senate to Republican control and thus the entire government, in actuality, since a mafjority of the U.S. Supreme Court was then -- as now -- acting in a partisan fashion on election issues. It is a very defensible position that this would not have happened if there had been no September 11 event, as G. W. Bush, being a minority and illegitimate President was struggling to remain effective in the early months of his Presidency.
It is ever so important that the Presidency not be decided on the basis of a simple public vote. Remember junior high when only the most popular were elected to any office? Certainly, being likable is an important consideration but should never be the only reason to vote for anyone for such an important office. Ideally, knowledgeable and responsible electors carefully selected by our democratic process would retain the power to make the ultimate choice based on each state's aggregate choice.
But mandating that a state's electoral votes go to the supposed winner of the popular national vote is a shocking delegation of power, and essentially an abdication of duty*. Those states which have enacted such an idiotic law should repeal such law, and no more states of commonwealths should pass such attractive-sounding yet dangerously harmful legislation.
N.B. This blog has often referred to parties or entities which although not in and of themselves deserving of out-right endorsement, nevertheless hold certain positions of value. The American Policy Roundtable linked to below may be such a group.
Protecting and Defending the Electoral College
* Recall the 2004 election after which the U.S. Congress for the first time in over 100 years held a formal debate over doubts that G. W. Bush had actually won the vote!
After considerable debate, and based on a careful reading of history, the Founding Fathers decided on a system which would help insulate the Presidential selection process from demagoguery. That populations can be whipped into momentary frenzies is well-known by both historians and politicians. Witness what happened in the mid-term elections of 2002, little more than one year after the horrific events of September 11, 2001. In contrast to almost every mid-term election in history, the President's party actually picked up seats in Congress that year, returning the U.S. Senate to Republican control and thus the entire government, in actuality, since a mafjority of the U.S. Supreme Court was then -- as now -- acting in a partisan fashion on election issues. It is a very defensible position that this would not have happened if there had been no September 11 event, as G. W. Bush, being a minority and illegitimate President was struggling to remain effective in the early months of his Presidency.
It is ever so important that the Presidency not be decided on the basis of a simple public vote. Remember junior high when only the most popular were elected to any office? Certainly, being likable is an important consideration but should never be the only reason to vote for anyone for such an important office. Ideally, knowledgeable and responsible electors carefully selected by our democratic process would retain the power to make the ultimate choice based on each state's aggregate choice.
But mandating that a state's electoral votes go to the supposed winner of the popular national vote is a shocking delegation of power, and essentially an abdication of duty*. Those states which have enacted such an idiotic law should repeal such law, and no more states of commonwealths should pass such attractive-sounding yet dangerously harmful legislation.
N.B. This blog has often referred to parties or entities which although not in and of themselves deserving of out-right endorsement, nevertheless hold certain positions of value. The American Policy Roundtable linked to below may be such a group.
Protecting and Defending the Electoral College
* Recall the 2004 election after which the U.S. Congress for the first time in over 100 years held a formal debate over doubts that G. W. Bush had actually won the vote!
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