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ProfessorGAC

(77,681 posts)

41. One Flaw In Your Logic...

Wed Jun 24, 2026, 05:47 PM

Wednesday

...that I see is the absolutism of the electors.
The framers, among other things & compromises, intended for the EC as a buffer to prevent a populist charlatan for achieving the highest office.
But, electors almost never vote their conscience. They just rubber stamp the voters in a ridiculous winner-take-all distribution of EC votes.
I honestly do not believe the framers intended for a person losing the popular vote getting the presidency. Not just a plurality candidate but a person who got the second most votes, which has happened twice in the last 24 years!
Also, there is an elitist intent in the EC, as the framers basically didn't trust the electorate. Hence the "vote their conscience" principle.
But, people who get to be electors are often no more attuned to government than the average voter. So, an elitist approach to diminish democratic ideals, couched as a "last line of defense", that hasn't worked as intended in 2 of the last 7 elections.
An effectiveness rate of 71.5% is not a great selling point for its continued value.

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Americans mostly back dumping the electoral college, i don't [View all] 31j20b3 Wednesday OP

Electoral College gave us Trump in 2016. hlthe2b Wednesday #1

Totally disagree. House of Roberts Wednesday #2

I'm ok with you disagreeing. Really 31j20b3 Wednesday #13

The House provides the local representation that you wnylib Wednesday #48

In part, yes. But imagine 20 years of presidents with no appreciation 31j20b3 Wednesday #49

I disagree that the president will soon have the power to wnylib Wednesday #57

I think you may be in a dangerous delusion,THIS IS WHAT TRUMP IS DOING NOW 31j20b3 Wednesday #63

I have no delusions or illusions about the state we are in. wnylib Wednesday #67

Yep. bamagal62 Wednesday #52

Dirt doesn't vote Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #3

Better said than my more verbose attempt Bettie Wednesday #7

Rob Sand might well be your next governor DFW Wednesday #51

I sure hope so Bettie Thursday #73

I share your assessment of him. DFW Thursday #74

This message was self-deleted by its author DinahMoeHum Thursday #77

Josh Turek may be your next US Senator DinahMoeHum Thursday #78

True. But people who choose how to run a Representative Democracy must consider 31j20b3 Wednesday #17

I don't see how any of this addresses the problems with the "tyranny of the minority" Stargleamer Wednesday #50

Well the E. C. is hardly tyranny is it???? That seems like rather extreme hyperbole. 31j20b3 Wednesday #54

It can be if it brings about a tyranny. . . Stargleamer Wednesday #61

Your argument really obscures the power that your visions of equal representation in the Senate and guarantee of 1 31j20b3 Wednesday #66

Yes, TYRANNY is EXACTLY what it is. Hillary Clinton WON the niyad Thursday #83

Dirt shouldn't vote Freddie Wednesday #27

Exactly OnionPatch Thursday #81

Suspect you are new to the impact of elections on cachukis Wednesday #4

You're suspicion is actually quite flawed as most sweeping assumptions are 31j20b3 Wednesday #18

Just relying on your attitude about the electoral college cachukis Wednesday #19

Yes as in a sweeping over generalization 31j20b3 Wednesday #22

Regardless. The electoral college was set up, ultimately, cachukis Wednesday #31

Yes. among things it was made to balance it and other legislation of the time 31j20b3 19 hrs ago #95

Valid points. cachukis 18 hrs ago #96

Actually one vote means one vote. All votes equal. All politicians campaigning must reach all voters. Nanjeanne Wednesday #5

If slavery was the only idea behind the electoral college... but today it ISN'T 31j20b3 Wednesday #25

I outlined the 3 reasons. None are valid now IMHO. Rural voters would still need to be wooed. No Nanjeanne Wednesday #33

Nting sweeping assumptions here: "Rural life s built around harvesting and extracting resources," c-rational Wednesday #40

"Rural life is built around harvesting and extracting resources" . . . seriously? markpkessinger Thursday #92

Despite the majority of Americans who would like to change the electoral college, it will likely walkingman Wednesday #6

One citizen, one vote. Johonny Wednesday #8

Maybe. maybe not. 31j20b3 Wednesday #20

Is this a sweeping assumption? CivicGrief Wednesday #23

Mighty big assumption on your part. Phoenix61 Wednesday #24

I also totally disagree. Eliminating the electoral college means EVERY VOTE COUNTS. Now, only votes in a few swing Fil1957 Wednesday #9

"If the college were eliminated, candidates would visit many more states to get every vote they can." MichMan Wednesday #21

It's really not about candidates visiting, it's about what enters the national conversation 31j20b3 Wednesday #26

Yes they would, absolutely. It's true they wouldn't visit Montana or the Dakotas, but there are many states that are Fil1957 Wednesday #64

The republican college lame54 Wednesday #10

This message was self-deleted by its author Scrivener7 Wednesday #11

Since the change would require a MineralMan Wednesday #12

True, but practical imposition isn't my consideration 31j20b3 Wednesday #29

Then your subject is irrelevant. MineralMan Wednesday #32

It's a shame you think the national economy made up of all its parts is irrelevant 31j20b3 Wednesday #36

But i don't think that. MineralMan Wednesday #38

I support The 'National Popular Vote Interstate Compact' LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #89

The state of Virginia is the latest state to join the National Popular Vote Compact LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #90

Wait until a state votes overwhelmingly Dem, but has to award it's EC votes to Repugs MichMan 12 hrs ago #97

Would force candidates to campaign all over the country instead of concentrating on swing state YorkRd Wednesday #14

UNfortunately that deflects things into the party competitions and thats a mistake 31j20b3 Wednesday #34

I don't think rural America has anything to worry about. BannonsLiver Wednesday #15

Also, rural areas tend to be dominated by a few wealthy white people. yardwork Wednesday #45

Each state has two Senators.... SergeStorms Wednesday #16

And each state must have at least one Congress person. 31j20b3 Wednesday #37

There's a compromise position. biocube Wednesday #28

Where do you find that information? MineralMan Wednesday #30

Rural America is grossly over represented in the Senate Bristlecone Wednesday #35

Idaho has the same power as the probably the 4th largest economy in the world. CA. Laughable. kairos12 Wednesday #60

How so? MichMan 11 hrs ago #98

the Electoral College served a purpose way back Skittles Wednesday #39

"...get the fuck rid of it" 3catwoman3 Wednesday #62

One Flaw In Your Logic... ProfessorGAC Wednesday #41

It doesn't matter what any of us think about the Electoral College. yardwork Wednesday #42

Land doesn't vote, people do obamanut2012 Wednesday #43

Yes saw that above, you can read my response from above. 31j20b3 Wednesday #44

If its a country by the people, for the people, then the majority of the people are who's in charge sboatcar Wednesday #46

No that can't really be allowed to stand. Places with small populations must be protected 31j20b3 Wednesday #56

The electoral college was a compromise to protect slave states. sboatcar Thursday #85

I agree. OC375 Wednesday #47

We're talking about people here, not "big cities" Stargleamer Wednesday #55

Yep OC375 Wednesday #65

I do. RandySF Wednesday #53

Dumping the electoral college doesn't eliminate representative government DFW Wednesday #58

I respectfully disagree. Congressional districts have an equal number of population. But each state gets 2 Senators. surfered Wednesday #59

So, the Senate should be abolished? MichMan Wednesday #68

No. We should go to a popular vote for President. It won't happen though without a Constitutional Amendment, which surfered Wednesday #70

I'm not sure that can be done The Revolution Wednesday #71

"Dumping the electoral college shifts democracy would great shift the influences of cities and metro-megalopoli"... GOOD FascismIsDeath Wednesday #69

It won't happen in any case The Revolution Wednesday #72

It should have been done away with 150 years ago. Emile Thursday #75

Citizens United is a bigger problem bucolic_frolic Thursday #76

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who seem to think that some magic portal will open... OldBaldy1701E Thursday #79

White Supremacy / Apartheid is the main LuvLoogie Thursday #80

Trees don't vote. I'm sick of hearing about Middle America. I live in Middle America and always have lived rural. AZLD4Candidate Thursday #82

One of the problems with the electoral college... returnee Thursday #84

Bad Take, IMO. Happy Hoosier Thursday #86

I strongly disagree LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #87

When the system rewards losing more votes, democracy starts to look like a coin toss rigged from the start. LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #88

"shift the influences of cities and metro-megalopoli" - NO, it's shifts it more towards PEOPLE and not land themaguffin Thursday #91

I support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #93

Just to correct the figures muriel_volestrangler Thursday #94