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eniwetok

(1,629 posts) Wed Mar 29, 2017, 08:58 AM Mar 2017

This PERFECTLY Illustrates How INSANE The Electoral College Concept Is! [View all]

I haven't yet made a spreadsheet to calculate the numbers... but the EC is such an insanely obscene idea from a democratic perspective that in theory someone could win the presidency by ONE vote in all the smallest states needed to add up to 270 EC votes... yet not get a SINGLE vote in the rest of the states. In theory we might get a president who was REJECTED not by a mere 3 million votes... but perhaps 70-80 million people. And what if only 3 people voted in each of those states that comprise those 270 votes?

I know it's highly unlikely but this is the problem with ALL such a vote weighting schemes... such as ANY aspect of the Constitution that uses state suffrage. For instance the amendment formula now gives states with less than 4% of the population the ability to block any reforms.... and since no vote would be unanimous... those representing perhaps only 2.5% might be able to thwart any reform. In the other direction states with 40% of the population can ratify any amendment meaning it might be approved by 21% of the US population.

Only making such decisions using the POPULAR VOTE can eliminate this insanity.

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This PERFECTLY Illustrates How INSANE The Electoral College Concept Is! [View all] eniwetok Mar 2017 OP

Eliminate the EC and return to paper ballots...nt LakeArenal Mar 2017 #1

And the asinine need to know who won the same night of the election. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #3

Exactly! rogue emissary Mar 2017 #8

THIS! ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #13

That can be done with adequate counters in each precinct Warpy Mar 2017 #51

word. nt TheFrenchRazor Mar 2017 #42

I don't know if it needs to be eliminated outright Blue_Tires Mar 2017 #2

The EC, like the Senate, has a clear GOP Bias... eniwetok Mar 2017 #21

It also invites rigging the election in a few states by switching just a few votes. L. Coyote Mar 2017 #4

Yes! The worst aspect of the EC... VOX Mar 2017 #41

absolutely, much easier to steal. nt TheFrenchRazor Mar 2017 #43

Russ Feingold would like to abolish it as well...... a kennedy Mar 2017 #5

All you have to do is convince those same small States to change the Constitution.... brooklynite Mar 2017 #6

that's the Catch 22 eniwetok Mar 2017 #7

2/3 of states legislatures is 33 of them treestar Mar 2017 #16

Amending the Constitution requires 3/4 of the states, not 2/3 Jim Lane Mar 2017 #18

I think the 2/3 came from....... WillowTree Mar 2017 #22

oh you are rights treestar Mar 2017 #23

The National Popular Vote Compact is not an amendment eniwetok Mar 2017 #38

So the question is how many votes gives a state disproportionate representation? eniwetok Mar 2017 #20

It does not look good in that treestar Mar 2017 #24

I think our system has unintended consequences... eniwetok Mar 2017 #25

Wouldnt that make winning elections harder? MichMan Mar 2017 #33

I don't think the nation would let CAL go... eniwetok Mar 2017 #36

yes, but the other blue states could join them. works for me. nt TheFrenchRazor Mar 2017 #44

and it's proving to be the end of what little democracy is left....the last 16 years have Gabi Hayes Mar 2017 #26

I remember reading that some states have a "work-around" plan. The participating states... NurseJackie Mar 2017 #9

clever idea... but I suspect it's doomed eniwetok Mar 2017 #10

Found this link. Legal arguments for and against. I believe the "for" arguments are stronger. NurseJackie Mar 2017 #12

I don't like that idea MichMan Mar 2017 #34

So you're opposed to it when it's not in your favor? NurseJackie Mar 2017 #35

either Dems stand for democratic principles... or they don't. eniwetok Mar 2017 #39

But if it were the will of the majority of voters in the US that would be a fairer outcome pnwmom Mar 2017 #46

EC is crap, just like the way congress is elected Ezior Mar 2017 #11

How many complaints have you read here about the Democratic Party, DCCC, etc? brooklynite Mar 2017 #14

the list system opens up the door for third parties... eniwetok Mar 2017 #19

Not sure what you have against the election of senators... clementine613 Mar 2017 #47

are you THAT unaware of vote weighting? eniwetok Mar 2017 #48

I meant within each state... clementine613 Apr 2017 #71

isn't the issue here what's ANTIdemocratic? eniwetok Apr 2017 #72

Yes. treestar Mar 2017 #15

There is a great video that shows that you only need to win about 22% of the vote to win the EC ProfessorPlum Mar 2017 #17

Here ProfessorPlum Mar 2017 #28

BRILLIANT VIDEO!!! eniwetok Mar 2017 #49

all the more reason that losers love it, and will never let it go. nt TheFrenchRazor Mar 2017 #45

How do you get rid of the ec? caroldansen Mar 2017 #27

It's kinda hard Calculating Mar 2017 #30

We'll never have fair elections so long as this abomination of a system exists Calculating Mar 2017 #29

and in the Senate.... Dems represent 33 million more Americans that the GOP eniwetok Mar 2017 #32

The more important issue is the focus on swing states. Jim Lane Mar 2017 #31

The EC actually does a good job at achieving the goal it was designed to achieve. ManiacJoe Mar 2017 #37

the EC was to magnify the power of white in slave states... eniwetok Mar 2017 #40

That quote gets thrown around a lot Azathoth Mar 2017 #50

Sure... but maybe it doesn't matter. eniwetok Mar 2017 #54

And it has policy implications as well. Yavin4 Mar 2017 #52

I have always wondered what would happen duncang Mar 2017 #53

It Also Seems To Be Doing The Opposite of The Intent ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #55

we can't unravel "winner take all" eniwetok Mar 2017 #56

Don't Disagree, E ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #57

It would still be a virtual tie... eniwetok Mar 2017 #59

Six of the 9 Scenarios Show Clinton on Top ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #61

Really? One? eniwetok Mar 2017 #63

You Can Quit Yelling At Me ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #64

sorry... eniwetok Mar 2017 #66

"I know it's highly unlikely" former9thward Mar 2017 #58

I know it's "improbable": SO WHAT!! eniwetok Mar 2017 #60

Rightly or wrongly forthemiddle Mar 2017 #67

in republican political theory all power derives from the PEOPLE eniwetok Mar 2017 #70

the currents of antidemocratic government are insidous eniwetok Mar 2017 #62

Blood red mountain grammy Mar 2017 #65

I'm not a huge fan of the EC Sgent Mar 2017 #68

Why should ANY voters get a bigger vote than others? eniwetok Mar 2017 #69

What a total waste of time looking backward as if we didn't have enough problems.. CK_John Apr 2017 #73

are you suggesting we don't bother to understand what needs to be fixed? eniwetok Apr 2017 #74