Electoral College Continues Its Slow Death
Dylan and Ethan Ris
Contributors
Posted:
04/30/09
We have disturbing news for our readers out there who know that democracy is a good thing ... in moderation.
At some point in the not too distant future, our presidents may actually be elected by popular vote.
See, right now, the people are given a pretty nice say in the whole presidential-election thing, but for obvious reasons they aren't allowed to make that decision for themselves. That's where the Electoral College comes in: a fun group of people who pop up every four years to help the common voters make the decision they really meant in the first place.
For instance, when the voters do something foolish like give a majority of their votes to Al Gore (or, for that matter, Samuel J. Tilden), the Electoral College sets them straight and lets the correct person be president, which is what the people really wanted all along anyway.
But now, there is a movement afoot to circumvent the Electoral College. States are opting to award their electoral votes based not on their own vote totals, but upon the national popular vote. The change would take effect for each state once other states representing a majority of electoral votes sign on.
Yesterday, Washington became the fifth state to join the movement, bringing the total to 61 votes of the 270 needed to undermine the status quo.
It may take a few more years, but the writing is on the wall. Mob rule is coming.
At some point in the not too distant future, our presidents may actually be elected by popular vote.
See, right now, the people are given a pretty nice say in the whole presidential-election thing, but for obvious reasons they aren't allowed to make that decision for themselves. That's where the Electoral College comes in: a fun group of people who pop up every four years to help the common voters make the decision they really meant in the first place.
For instance, when the voters do something foolish like give a majority of their votes to Al Gore (or, for that matter, Samuel J. Tilden), the Electoral College sets them straight and lets the correct person be president, which is what the people really wanted all along anyway.
But now, there is a movement afoot to circumvent the Electoral College. States are opting to award their electoral votes based not on their own vote totals, but upon the national popular vote. The change would take effect for each state once other states representing a majority of electoral votes sign on.
Yesterday, Washington became the fifth state to join the movement, bringing the total to 61 votes of the 270 needed to undermine the status quo.
It may take a few more years, but the writing is on the wall. Mob rule is coming.