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The Electoral College is an idea whose time has come. . . and gone
The Electoral College was created by the Founding Fathers of the US, who believed that the common individual should not have the same importance in the voting process as “learned landowners.” Since that time, we’ve passed innumerable laws and amendments to widen the scope of democracy, most importantly allowing women and minorities the right to vote. So why is this dinosaur still around?
We have had three elections in which one candidate won the popular vote, but his opponent won in the Electoral College, which is the only victory that really counts. At least once, it almost led to a civil war. And most recently, it has divided the country so dramatically into political factions that most of us lose sight of the fact that someone who disagrees with you most likely isn’t a traitor or a conspirator.
We’re on the eve of what could very easily turn out to be the fourth. I don’t think the country can take that happening again, whichever way it happens.
Even a reform to the College could help the process. If the voters in a state are split 51/49 for Candidate A, why then do all the electoral votes go to Candidate A? Isn’t that in effect saying to the 49% that their votes didn’t count, and that “one man, one vote” isn’t the truth?
It really mucks up the campaigning process, too. Kerry’s not spending much time in, say, Georgia, and Bush isn’t doing a lot of campaigning in California. Why not? Because those states are already conceded, in effect, to one side or the other. Why does the vote of an undecided voter in Ohio count more than it would if the same person lived in Massachusetts?
This system has long outlived its usefulness, and the thought of polarizing the people of this nation even further come November 2 is really, really disturbing.
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