Posted by R.Anne on December 12, 2000, at 16:13:45
In reply to Re: Election Ups and Downs, Back and Forth, posted by Noa on December 12, 2000, at 15:28:28
> The electoral college had some merit, imho, in the context of the time it was designed, because the average voter, which, btw, was only limited to white men, did not have access to the information and knowledge that (at least according to one school of thought) was needed to make a good decision in voting. It was also a compromise, I believe between a centralized, federal government, and a federation of states with state powers. I think people were afraid to let go of state powers because they were coming from the model of oppressive centralized governemnts in Europe and Brittain, and wanted to ensure that local governments could retain power over what happens to them locally.
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> But in the over two hundred years since, the reality is that we are not a loose federation of states, there is more movement from state to state, there is truly more of a national culture and political reality. And, the average voter nowadays has access to more than enough information to make informed choices when they vote.
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> So, I am all for getting rid of the electoral college.
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> In order to do so, there has to be a 2/3 majority vote in congress (both houses) to add an ammendment to the constitution and then 75% of the states have to ratify it. This is a real long shot, if not impossible. I believe it is worth trying, and apparently not long ago, it was raised in the house of representatives.
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> What you would have to do, I think, is talk to your representative and senators, raise awareness of it and get people to write letters and postcards to their congress people. And, start lobbying state legislators as well, although they don't come into play until later on.
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> It is really hard to get an ammendment ratified. Look at ERA, for example.*****
Thanks for explaining. Seems this electoral college format needs updating. But there is an ERA now isn't there? It also took woman a very long time to get the right to vote but they have it now-if it counts with the electoral college baloney. If by any chance Gore would become president I wonder if he would look into doing away with the electoral college? :*)
poster:R.Anne
thread:3549
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001117/msgs/3604.html