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kentuck

(110,950 posts)
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:12 PM Dec 2016

There should be major changes made to the Electoral College.

It should be replaced with a durable rubber stamp. The VP can keep it in his possession and when the election is over and one candidate wins the most electoral votes, then the VP breaks out the big rubber stamp and declares the winner of the electoral vote the next President of the United States. Why do we need people to do what a rubber stamp can do? What can they do that a rubber stamp can't do?

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There should be major changes made to the Electoral College. (Original Post) kentuck Dec 2016 OP
Be honest now! If we Dems hadn't lost 2 Presidential Elections, getting the most votes, napi21 Dec 2016 #1
So what is the job of the electors? kentuck Dec 2016 #2
In theory, they are NOT supposed to be there to rubber stamp anyone who is unqualified mtnsnake Dec 2016 #3
What type of person would be "unqualified"? kentuck Dec 2016 #4
Trump is the poster boy for "unqualified," and no, I cannot imagine anyone mtnsnake Dec 2016 #5
So, if they do not do their job. kentuck Dec 2016 #6
For sure mtnsnake Dec 2016 #7
It was set up to favor the property class. kentuck Dec 2016 #8
Legally he's qualified crazycatlady Dec 2016 #9

napi21

(45,806 posts)
1. Be honest now! If we Dems hadn't lost 2 Presidential Elections, getting the most votes,
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:29 PM
Dec 2016

but the Pubs won the Electoral College votes, would you STILL want to get rid of it? I've asked myself that question, and I'm not so sure.

That change would completely change how campaigns are run. You wouldn't cater to the "Tossup States". Since no one can possibly campaign in all 50 states, all candidates would resort to only campaigning in the big cities, and most populace states.

It's certainly something we all need to think about before automatically saying YES!

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
2. So what is the job of the electors?
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:33 PM
Dec 2016

But to be a rubber stamp? Why do we need them? What purpose do they serve?

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
3. In theory, they are NOT supposed to be there to rubber stamp anyone who is unqualified
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:38 PM
Dec 2016

to hold the office of president. They are "supposed" to be a last gasp measure to prevent someone like Trump from setting foot in the White House.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
4. What type of person would be "unqualified"?
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 01:49 PM
Dec 2016

Can you imagine someone more unqualified than Donald Trump?

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
5. Trump is the poster boy for "unqualified," and no, I cannot imagine anyone
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 02:22 PM
Dec 2016

who ever ran for office who is more unqualified than him.

The electoral college was set up by the Founding Fathers to prevent someone exactly like Trump from holding the highest office in the land, regardless of whether or not he won the popular votes in any given state. Any elector can override their state's vote and vote for someone else if it is felt that the winner of that state is someone who has shown they want to be a tyrant or if that person is clearly unqualified. Not that they will have the guts to do it, but if the electoral college is to honor the wishes of our Founding Fathers, they have the perfect historical opportunity to do so.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
6. So, if they do not do their job.
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 02:32 PM
Dec 2016

Then they show no reason to exist any longer. They serve no purpose.

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
7. For sure
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 02:45 PM
Dec 2016

but unfortunately, as long as the EC favors republicans, we're probably going to be stuck with it for at least the short range future.

I'm still hoping for a small miracle tomorrow. I say "small" because if they do honor the Founders tomorrow by preventing a maniac like Trump from becoming president, I would guess that they would choose someone almost as bad as Trump like Rubio or Cruz, ugh, instead of a moderate.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
8. It was set up to favor the property class.
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 02:48 PM
Dec 2016

They did not trust the will of the people and searched for ways to dilute the concept of democracy.

crazycatlady

(4,492 posts)
9. Legally he's qualified
Mon Dec 19, 2016, 10:08 AM
Dec 2016

As am I as of last year on my 35th birthday.

Technically speaking, you have to be a natural born US citizen at least 35 years of age. So that makes me just as qualified as The Donald (we even from the same state).

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