Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Left Turn Only

(74 posts)
Sun Jan 27, 2013, 09:27 AM Jan 2013

Flunk the Electoral College

Every two years I write my representatives about having a Constitutional amendment to scrap the electoral college even though I know class is out on that subject in Congress. While I sign the petitions to repeal Citizens United, I am left wondering why there isn't as much anger over an oligarchy choosing who our president should be.

All the reasons that the founding fathers had for having the electoral college are no longer valid. We now have a population that can read and write (for the most part anyway), and we live in the age of mass communication, so everyone has access to information to make good choices; therefore, the time for needing wealthy, well educated, white men to know what is best for their ignorant citizens is well past.

It seems to me that getting rid of the electoral college would be something that people of both parties could agree, so the argument shouldn't be framed as a partisan debate. I am asking for those who are knowledgeable about internet petitions to get this together. Remember, Congress would never take this on without water-boarding committee chairs because the two-party system loves the way the electoral college keeps out those pain-in-the-arse third parties and independents.

The president should represent all people of all the states and should be elected by a majority of those people. And by demanding a true majority, run-off elections would be possible, meaning third-party candidates would finally have to be listened to.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Election Reform»Flunk the Electoral Colle...