The Terrible Truth About Your Vote

THere are problems with the electoral college but it does give better representation to states with low or very low populations.

Electors *can* vote for whoever they want but have traditionally voted their state.

Research first; then arguement.

They did not 'go against' the popular vote in 2000.  The electors voted for the candidate who got the most popular votes in their respective states, which is the tradition & intent.  To be accurate, you should say the candidate who won the national popular vote has lost in the electoral college only twice.  The cumulative national popular vote, while a mainstay of the media coverage, means absolutely nothing in electing a president.

Well I understood it and I have been told by dr guy that I cant read a chart....lol:)

No, simple math.  The system gives greater represntation to the little states. And there are more little states than big ones (about 4-1).

That does not mean you cant learn.

This is not entirely true.  In some states they aren't legally bound to vote for the candidate the popular vote in that state dictates but there are a handful of states that legally bind their electors.  I have no idea what the punishments are for violating the state's popular vote but they are legally bound to vote for a particular candidate.

I do agree that the electoral college is a bit outdated but I don't think it will change any time soon.  I think we are more likely to get some serious campaign finance reform enacted or have all of the states change their election rules to make it easier for third parties to get on the ticket.

Thank

should be "thanks"

unloyal electors have never affected an election result.  Go to 270towin.com to look at the electoral maps of all of our elections. 

And yes the system is stupid and outdated.  Just make it popular.  Can anyone honestly say that when the person with less votes wins, its fair and the will of the people? 

jackson tilden cleveland and gore were elected...

And big states have more power because there are more people.  California is the most UNDER-represented in the electoral college.  The system is terrible. 

4 times has it gone against the will of the people.

  Jackson-Adams, Tilden-Hayes, Cleveland-Harrison, Gore-Bush.

and there have been cases where electors cast their votes mistakenly or like in 1864 one elector from nevada got stuck somewhere and couldnt make it.  And for the only time in history a state had only 2 electors. 

Yes it is.  But you will find no crocodile tears being shed by me.  I disagree with your assesment of the system.  The alternative is to make it unfair for the small states.  And lest we forget (even though it is popular to call us America), we are the UNITED STATES of America. 

Is it any more unfair to the disinfranchized big state voters?  Why should accident of residence give more power to a farmer in Wyoming over a car salesman in L.A.?   We dont live in the 1800s anymore.  Its time to move on.  Also im tired of people in North Dakota thinking they understand the war on terror better than people in Midtown manhattan. 

Your first question is reflexive.  Is it fair to disenfranchise the small state voters>

And your last statement is supremely arrogant and condescending.  WHat makes YOU think that a clown in midtown manhattan knows any more?

I had a civics teacher that explained the balance the Electoral College has using a Dear Abby column.

Communism: You have 2 cows. The government takes both of them and gives you part of the milk. (We will decide what you will have)

Socialism: You have 2 cows. The government takes 1 and gives to your neighbor. (We will decide how much you can have)

Fascism: You have 2 cows. The government takes both cows and sells you the milk. (We will let you pay for what we will let you have)

Nazism: You have 2 cows. The government takes both of your cows, and then shoots you. (We will take all you have and we will kill you to solve the problem)

Bureaucracy: You have 2 cows. The government takes both of them, shoots one, milks the other, then pours the milk down the drain. (We will not make any progress)

Democracy: Everyone has 2 cows, then a vote is taken, and whatever the majority decides to do, you do, and that's no bull! (We are the mob and we rule)

Representative Republic: You have 2 cows. You sell one of them and buy a bull. The cow and bull make a little calf and you decide what you want to do with them all. (You are individuals with minds of your own. We will rule together. Pesky farsighted U.S. Constitution)

mearly saying that a person who has actually been the target of terrorism might have more of an understanding. 

That makes the Israelis kings.  Do we turn over the country to them?

I belive that the Electoral College should be removed. I don't think it's fair that we had to suffer from an incredibly bad president (you know who I mean) for eight years. I mean come, we are a democracy, we should pick our prisident not members of the goverment.

Sorry but you need to retake your civics class.  The United States of America is a Republic, not a Democracy.  A true democracy is mob rule meaning as long as you can get 51% of the people on your side you win (think about slavery, civil rights, etc. if we had lived in a democracy it is possible that segregation and maybe even slavery would still be around today). 

And the whole notion of a popular vote for president is actually relatively new.  I am a little torn on the electoral college, while I think there are probably better ways to elect a president I understand why it's there.

Sorry, I get the two mixed up.