General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Should California Threaten Secession To Abolish Electoral College? [View all]eniwetok
(1,629 posts)But the "one"... the national government, owes it to its people to provide morally legitimate government based on the consent of the governed. It's always been questionable given how antidemocratic the Senate and the amendment process are. But the EC is a unique in that it can actually overturn the popular vote and impose on the nation a president REJECTED by the People.
In a more modern political system, we'd be able to abolish it... but our system is a virtual straight jacket. Not ONE of the core antidemocratic features of our system has ever been reformed. There have been close to 1000 attempts to abolish the EC.
I summarized the problem working withing the system in my OP... and the Popular Vote compact is interesting but if it ever gets to 270... it's sure to be challenged by a GOP Congress under Art 1:
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
And if the Compact is allowed, the first time a state votes against how its voters did... there'd be hell to pay. Plus, it distracts us from the real problem that the Constitution is a straight jacket. Amendments SHOULD be difficult to pass... but it should be done by a super majority of the voters, not the states.