Some people are not aware that on November 4th, the President and Vice-President of the United States are NOT being chosen by the people.
Rather, the people are voting for Electors who will themselves vote for the President and Vice-President on December 15th.
You might like to read about this here or here. What some people may also not be aware of is that the system was nearly abolished in 1969/70:
The closest the nation has ever come to abolishing the Electoral College occurred during the 91st Congress. The presidential election of 1968 had ended with Richard Nixon receiving 301 electoral votes to Hubert Humphrey's 191. Yet, Nixon had only received 511,944 more popular votes than Humphrey, equating to less than 1% of the national total. George Wallace received the remaining 46 electoral votes with only 13.5% of the popular vote.
House Joint Resolution 681 was introduced to amend the Constitution:
On April 29, 1969, the House Judiciary Committee voted favorably, 28–6, to approve the Amendment. On September 30, 1969, President Richard Nixon gave his endorsement for adoption of the proposal, encouraging the Senate to pass its version of the Amendment. In its October 8, 1969 edition, the New York Times reported that the legislatures of 30 states were "either certain or likely to approve a constitutional amendment embodying the direct election plan if it passes its final Congressional test in the Senate." On August 14, 1970, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent its report advocating passage of the Amendment to the full Senate.
Then it was filibusted out. Shame.
Wow! I didn't know that-and I know nearly everything. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd this is, we're told, the greatest democracy on earth!
ReplyDeleteIf you simply count the popular vote, then there will be massive voter fraud everywhere, instead of just in the close-run states.
ReplyDeleteThe US has never claimed to be a democracy; it has always been a republic.
ReplyDeleteThank G-d that there is something in place for the rurals to equal the urbans :)
ReplyDeleteAnd bob is correct, this is a Republic that is commonly (but wrongly) referred to as 'the greatest democracy on Earth'.
What do you understand, gentlemen, the difference to be between republic and democracy?
ReplyDeleteAlso, you say, m'lord, rurals equalling the urbans and I understand that but isn't it one man one vote in the end?
republic: election by representation of the people
ReplyDeletedemocracy: direct vote of the people
And it's one man, one vote; but you vote for the state to support the President :)
Our Founding Fathers despised democracy; hence, we were founded as and are a republic. I'm glad that resolution was fillibustered out. The Electoral College is a fine thing, it is the only organization which allows much of the nation's voice to be heard. Those who would wish it away don't realize that without it, most of the time campaigning would be spent only in states with high population counts.
ReplyDeleteAs this point of view has been taken by every American I have spoken with, it seems that there really is a distinction in your minds between Republic and democracy and that democracy is not all that important. That's interesting. But it's right to say, isn't it, that the Constitution is important to you?
ReplyDelete