Dislikes: 0
If you have the time, find out why the Electoral College exists in the first place. But only if you are interested in fairness, and also why someone who lives in the periphery would act like a jerk defending it (sorry, I could have done that better).Originally Posted by 907tec
Last edited by Iowatech; 11-17-2016 at 03:22 AM.
When I first replied about the electoral vs popular vote, I was not 'whining' about who actually became the Pres-Elec; that is moot. I replied about, "facts" presented that Trump had won both popular and electoral votes which hadn't been determined yet. (And I don't think it has been official, with 'illegal votes' or not).
"You can't trust your eyes, if your mind is out of focus" --
Not to get in a competition, but I'm fairly sure that I am further into the "periphery" than you are. That does not give me an excuse to act like a jerk. Further, I am well aware of the original reasoning behind the creation of an electoral college.
I understand that the EC is intended to give a voice to those living outside metropolitan areas. Hell, I certainly fall into that category. However, I am failing to see the effectiveness of this system. If the conceit is to ensure that rural concerns are considered by presidential candidates, this system appears to be ineffective. Whereas candidates might have spent their entire campaign pandering to NYC/LA/etc before, under the EC system they focus upon the handful of swing states. Same thing in my mind: a tiny portion of the country essentially dictates the outcome of an election.
Secondly, and I realize that we are not a "democracy" in the truest sense of the word, but I have a hard time justifying why rural votes should be given more weight than urban. How is it fair that lesser populated States receive one electoral vote for every 150,000 people, while more populated States receive only one vote for every 300,000+?
All animosity aside, I am genuinely curious for alternative perspectives on this. As I said, I live in an extremely rural area and am familiar with the sentiment that my vote is entirely irrelevant.
Some people have drawn similarities between England's "Brexit" and Trump getting in. Nigel Farage seemed to take a part in Trump's campaign.
When you think you have made a procedure idiot proof your company employs a better idiot.
From a european point of view i cant say i support Trump nor Hilary, the newshighlights here were nothing but extreme behaviour on both accounts.
Then again, in comparison voting and elections here are not the media circus it is in the states. (hence me using the word extreme earlier)
Here in Belgium a few years ago, we had our own 'Trump' elected and it seems similar to me, big words and promises got toned down to more reasonable dialogue.
I still find it fascinating how it went down though, do i understand it correctly that voting is not a duty in the usa ? its a choice ?
Voting is referred to as one's civic duty, or patriotic duty, but it is not required. (We don't take too kindly to being mandated to do a particular thing.)
the majority of "protesters" in the Portland, OR area actually didn't even vote in this election, which further reinforces one of my political philosophies: "If you don't vote, you don't get to whine about the outcome."
I'm realizing more and more each day what an asshole I really am, and I'm to the point where I simply don't care. I'm "deplorable".
Somewhere there is a tree working hard to produce oxygen for you to live, NOW GO APOLOGIZE TO IT!
My daughter is in college, and they talked about the election in one of the classes (instead of doing school work). She said every single one of them felt that only sexists and racists had voted for Trump. My daughter finally spoke up and said something to the effect of, "Some people just disagree with Hillary's policies." They looked at her like she had two heads, and asked what on earth someone could possibly disagree on with Clinton. She said, "Well, the plans for the economy, the border security... and I'm prolife, so I can't vote for someone who is pro-abortion."
They quieted down after that. Apparently, no one had even considered the notion that people voted on issues instead of race or sex.
And where there have been arrests, the majority of those arrested have been from out of state. Many of them actually did not vote.
Of all the original candidates on both major parties, the only ones lower on my list than Trump were Bush and Clinton
The number of electors each state gets is based on the number or Representatives they have in the House of Representatives, and that is based on each states population. So that means that all fifty states get fairly represented in the election of the President, but it also means that candidates for the Presidency need to focus on all fifty states. That's one of the big differences between a representative republic like the U.S. and a pure democracy.
Don't worry about animosity, while we are fellow human beings we aren't the same person. As long as we can discuss them as fellow human beings, as far as I care disagreements are allowed.
Posting Permissions
Thanks: 
Likes: 
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks