Editor,
Did you notice that the Electoral system is only unfair when the Democrats lose? Also, have Democrats in Congress introduced any legislation or initiated a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the Electoral College? Why did nobody complain about the Electoral system when Bill Clinton was elected with less than 50 percent of the popular vote in 1992? Why didn’t the Democrats try to change the system during the first two years of Obama’s administration when they controlled the House and the Senate?
It has been three years since the 2016 election and 19 years since the 2000 elections, but Mr. Weil (and his fellow Democrats) are again trying to convince America that the Electoral system is unfair. Mr. Weil likens the Electoral process to “voter suppression” — another dreary faux-outrage over a perceived injustice.
In reality, elimination of Electoral system would suppress the votes of every citizen in the less populous states (e.g. MAINE, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, Iowa, both Dakotas, Wyoming, etc…. you get the picture). The Presidency would be determined by just a handful of states – California, New York, Florida, Illinois, Texas. The rest of us might just as well stay home (and probably would) on Election Day.
We live in a democratic Republic – a union of 50 STATES – not a Democracy. The Legislative Branch is elected via popular vote within each of the 50 states, but the chief executive officer (i.e. the President) is chosen by the States, not by popular vote. (This system is analogous to the business world where a corporation’s president is selected by its Board of Directors who are themselves elected by popular vote of the shareholders. The CEO’s skills and abilities are the primary determining factors to his selection and longevity in office.)
Having the President chosen by the States assures that the rights of minorities will not be suppressed by the “Tyranny of the Majority” that inevitably leads to despotism and has destroyed the pure Democracies of history. If we eliminate the Electoral College then we might as well erase the States’ boundaries, disband the States’ legislatures, and cede all governing power to the swampdwellers in Washington, D.C.
Finally, I will forever be grateful that the Electoral system gave us President Abraham Lincoln and saved us from Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. The system works.
Rufus T. Firefly
Biddeford
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less