General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This PERFECTLY Illustrates How INSANE The Electoral College Concept Is! [View all]ProfessorGAC
(64,995 posts)The intent was that we had a system to stop a foreign power from pushing a populist candidate, or a ideologue from gaining the presidency by putting a layer of people who could deflect the common will by saying "No, not this person." Instead, it's a rubber stamp process that has now, twice in 16 years, put someone into office that did not even gain a plurality, in the latter case influenced by a foreign power and pushed by wealthy ideologues.
To me, the biggest problem is the "winner take all" casting of electoral votes most states employ. The buffer concept would work equally well if the votes were cast by each state, proportional to the popular vote. Then it would take only a few highly principled people in a mix of states around the union to say "no, not this person". Today, it takes MASSIVE defection and we end up where we are now.