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The Electoral College

Started by pr126, January 13, 2017, 01:19:24 AM

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pr126

In this video Mark Dice explains the role of the electoral college.
In short, it was designed to prevent two wolves and a sheep to vote what to have for dinner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnKgpYCXBqE

missingnocchi

#1
Quite the contrary. The system was put in place to protect the elites from the exploited classes. This is very clear not just from the writings of Madison, but from the membership of the college: political and business elites.

Even if the intentions were noble, though, the modern system has very little to do with what the founding fathers set up. The fact that less populous states get slightly more representation per capita doesn't do much to help your case, since that includes Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, DC, Delaware, and Rhode Island - these are your so-called sheep. Trump's election-winning states (Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) are all in the top half, meaning their electoral influence is actually diminished in the system as it is. Trump would have won an electoral college with equal per-capita vote distribution by even more, because he won by its secondary effect - to reduce the influence of highly partisan states on either side (an effect that the founding fathers couldn't possibly have designed, since in their day electors were free to vote as they saw fit, and did). Are these the wolves? Is a Republican from Boise more carnivorous than one from Green Bay? Is a Democrat from Poughkeepsie plotting against his neighbor in Scranton? Seems like a stretch, the sort of argument one could only make if they were too drunk on their victory to think straight, but maybe that's just me.
What's a "Leppo?"

pr126

Was there any dissatisfaction or complaints about the electoral college in the last two elections?

missingnocchi

Quote from: pr126 on January 13, 2017, 04:21:15 AM
Was there any dissatisfaction or complaints about the electoral college in the last two elections?

There are always abstract complaints, but as for specific grievances, no. You'll find the last three elections produced the same electoral and popular vote results, and as such, there were none of the type to be had.
What's a "Leppo?"

Baruch

Quote from: missingnocchi on January 13, 2017, 05:12:54 AM
There are always abstract complaints, but as for specific grievances, no. You'll find the last three elections produced the same electoral and popular vote results, and as such, there were none of the type to be had.

To the FEMA camps with the Democrats ... crybabies!

Yes, the upper class oppresses ... they have nothing else to do.  Why are you so prejudiced against this despised minority?
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.