The Electoral College

[Pinkie Pie]

It'll be nice to have a non-partisan discussion here for once. >.>

What are your thoughts on the electoral college system in place in America? More specifically, do you think it's still neccesary, or is it outdated? Also, if it is outdated, what kind of alternatives should there be?

I personally think that the electoral college could be done away with. It was originally set in place because it was believed that the common man was not educated enough to choose the government directly. While I understand and agree that there are still quite a few Americans who are under-educated and know little of our government, I think that an alternative to the college could and should be used.

I think what would be more effective is this. A nationwide test would be issued that would have to be passed before becoming elligible to vote. This test would confirm the persons basic knowledge of America's government and the way it works. The test would not be extremely difficult, but it would ensure that the people voting actually know/give a damn about what they're doing.

The test should be offered in several languages, and the information required to pass it should be readily available.

The country would then work on a popular vote system as opposed to the current one, in which, say, a republican in California or a democrat in Texas get little to no say in the way their country is run.

[Travisblaze]

Screw the common man who is an idiot. The majority of us who vote are very intelligent and I sincerely believe that the popular vote should determine the presidency.

[Night]

Hell yes, Fuck that college.

My current political party is the GFY of America party. It consists of just me and my main platform is "Go fuck yourselves". Basically everybody should have a say, according to GFY policy, and that nobody should give a shit about anybody elses vote or political alliance. That was the "WHO" here comes the why.

As Tessa (i think that's what we calls you, I don't like to use nicknames I didnt think up without... permission, i guess) stated that it doesn't matter which way you vote if the majority of people in your state think differently, it defeats the purpose.

Nobody cares about the "WHEN" and all that other shit.

[Rainbow Dash]

While I think the electoral college is rather irritating, and I actually have thought of alternatives, there isnt too much that can be done other than it. I would love to see only educated americans vote (or even better yet, only educated people run!) but Americans are lazy enough as it is. Not many people are going to want to take adecent test AND wait in line to vote. Maybe if they had the poll at the end of the test, but then it would take forever to count the polls... I really just dont know enoug habout this issue to offer any suggestions.

[Zelphiel]

It was originally set in place because it was believed that the common man was not educated enough to choose the government directly.

I think it's still like that. The great majority of people get all their info on potential public officials from ad campaigns instead of doing research themselves. It's not that the people are too 'stupid' to make a direct democracy work, they're just way too uninformed and I don't think that will change... ever.

I think what would be more effective is this. A nationwide test would be issued that would have to be passed before becoming elligible to vote. This test would confirm the persons basic knowledge of America's government and the way it works. The test would not be extremely difficult, but it would ensure that the people voting actually know/give a damn about what they're doing.

The test should be offered in several languages, and the information required to pass it should be readily available.


That would never happen, as being a non fellon US citizen gets you the right to vote. I don't think they'd ever take that out of the constitution. It'd basically flush all of the blood and sweat it took for the non wasp landowners to be able to voice any kind of oppinion.

how many people do you know that could actually do well on a test on the american federal system anyway? :hmm

[Rainbow Dash]

I think it's still like that. The great majority of people get all their info on potential public officials from ad campaigns instead of doing research themselves. It's not that the people are too 'stupid' to make a direct democracy work, they're just way too uninformed and I don't think that will change... ever.

I actually believe its worse now >.>;;

[[PhiberOpticks]]

The electoral college is garbage. In a society where not going to school is against the law, we should pick our leaders on a popular vote. It's not like ALL of America is stupid. Numbers vary on what you consider stupid though.

I think that a nationwide voting eligibility test would be great. However, it would take away some people's rights to vote. Regardless of whether they're retarded or not, it's still against the Constitution. But hey, if we can do it with the spy program, why not with voting.

[Rainbow Dash]

Well, if America is retarted, then a retarted leader would be a reasonable representative, now wouldnt it?

[Pinkie Pie]

Another alternative could be giving a larger focus to teaching government in school. Instead of teaching it for one semester during senior year, they could start teaching it throughout high school.

[The Deity]

Yeah its outdated, a popular vote makes the most sense but its not a real big deal. Bush is the only President that I can ever recall winning the electoral college and not the popular vote, but I don't claim to know all the presidential races.

I think that a nationwide voting eligibility test would be great. However, it would take away some people's rights to vote. Regardless of whether they're retarded or not, it's still against the Constitution. But hey, if we can do it with the spy program, why not with voting.

If you're not okay with wiretapping possible terrorists, doesn't it seem like an amazing contradiction to be okay with taking away an individual's right to vote?

[Jeff]

While I think the electoral college is rather irritating, and I actually have thought of alternatives, there isnt too much that can be done other than it. I would love to see only educated americans vote (or even better yet, only educated people run!) but Americans are lazy enough as it is. Not many people are going to want to take adecent test AND wait in line to vote. Maybe if they had the poll at the end of the test, but then it would take forever to count the polls... I really just dont know enoug habout this issue to offer any suggestions.

Actually, if you go back and study your history, white people did this to negros during the Civil Rights Movement so that they cannot vote. What you are mentioning is quite absurd and discriminatory. Everyone in this country has the right to vote. If you want to talk about "educated" Americans, I assume you mean liberal Americans, don't you? Check your amendments, there are no more "poll taxes". This isn't Iraq under the Hussein regime, it's the United States of America. Quite funny how I hear complaining about how GW is taking away everyone's rights, and then I see absolute contradiction here.

As far as the electoral college goes, it is a system that is effective 95% of the time. It gives greater power to the states. Instead of voting for George Bush or John Kerry, you vote for the chap in the electoral college who plans to give his vote for George Bush. I like the system personally, most of the time, the popular vote is in fact the electoral vote anyway.

Edit: The other instance in which one candidate received the "popular vote" but not the electoral vote came in the election of 1888, in which Grover Cleveland was defeated by Republican Benjamin Harrison.

[Pinkie Pie]

Actually, if you go back and study your history, white people did this to negros during the Civil Rights Movement so that they cannot vote.

My suggestion was more an ideal where the information would be available to anyone and everyone that wanted the ability to vote. It then would be a matter of caring enough to learn about how the government actually works. I admit that it's very unrealistic that such a thing would happen without failing miserably. I think my second idea was probably much more realistic.

What you are mentioning is quite absurd and discriminatory.

Not if done right. But as I said, the chances of the ideal situation being possible is unrealistic. I fully admit to my first idea being way too easy to be abused.

Everyone in this country has the right to vote. If you want to talk about "educated" Americans, I assume you mean liberal Americans, don't you?

Er... no, no I don't. God forbid a discussion take place about politics without it breaking down into "Democrat vs. Republican"/"Conservative vs. Liberal". I think it's equally unfair that a Republican in California gets just as little say in who becomes president as a Democrat in Texas.

Quite funny how I hear complaining about how GW is taking away everyone's rights, and then I see absolute contradiction here.

Although I can see my idea degenerating into taking away rights, the ideal would do no such thing. It simply would require someone to actually attempt to know what they were doing when they voted for the people running the country. I admit once again that my original idea was very flawed.

[Lancet Jades]

Closed at Tessa's request*