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MichMary

(1,714 posts)

140. The Electoral College

Tue Apr 18, 2017, 11:21 AM

Apr 2017

When we vote we are actually voting for the electors, even thought the candidates' names are on the ballot.

And there isn't one single election; there is an election in every state.

The interests of the states vary quite a bit--agricultural/industrial/tech/tourist . . . The interests of the people in Wisconsin will probably differ quite a bit from those of the people in California. The EC ensures that the voices of the people in Wisconsin are heard, and their interests are addressed. If there were no EC, candidates would only have to try to appeal to voters in high population areas. The rest could just forget it.

(BTW, candidate Clinton didn't go to Wisconsin at all. How did that work out for her?)

Also, as it was explained in my h.s. civics class back in the Dark Ages, since there is no limit to the number of candidates on the ballot, it could end up with a single-issue candidate winning the presidency with only a small percentage of the overall vote. Not good . . .

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Should the United States have a standard Psychological Test [View all] yuiyoshida Apr 2017 OP

No thank you. NCTraveler Apr 2017 #1

Ah, yes, the Non Partisan Expert Committee on Who Can Run For President jberryhill Apr 2017 #2

Agree. NCTraveler Apr 2017 #4

I was thinking as in a Scientific or Medical experts yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #6

I was thinking of political experts jberryhill Apr 2017 #7

There are some top medical experts from different yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #9

I'm sorry, but you are hopelessly naive about this jberryhill Apr 2017 #14

I am talking about top Universities yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #16

Yes, known bastions of liberals, communists, feminists, homosexuals, minorities, etc. jberryhill Apr 2017 #19

We have done this before, haven't we? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #24

"If a person has a doctorate and recognized University credentials" jberryhill Apr 2017 #25

Okay so he is a flaw in the ointment, are you going yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #29

Yeah, it's how we got a second term of Nixon jberryhill Apr 2017 #63

And its the Electoral College that put in Trump yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #66

Non-sequitur jberryhill Apr 2017 #67

I am not a historian its true... nor was I around during that time period yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #68

Okay, so history provides an example of this being a bad idea jberryhill Apr 2017 #74

Thats the thing, they won't yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #87

Just the concept of "don't pass" doesn't make any sense. Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #166

Well as I said on another post yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #169

This would require a constitutional amendment which 3/4s of the states would have to ratify. Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #171

...and a non-partisan Committee of experts to pick the non-partisan Committee of Scientists? brooklynite Apr 2017 #89

FINe TELL you what yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #91

"you all seem to want it to fail anyway" jberryhill Apr 2017 #103

I'm not voting for you as president - too short fused. n/t Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #167

I would never run... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #170

+1,000 AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #111

Superb. That summed it up beautifully. n/t Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #165

There should at least be a test for psychopathy! LongTomH Apr 2017 #3

And what if it turned out... jberryhill Apr 2017 #5

Do you think maybe campaigns would be smart enough loyalsister Apr 2017 #31

The problem with the HPC and any psychopathy/sociopathy inventory is.... steve2470 Apr 2017 #128

I'd settle for.... MedusaX Apr 2017 #8

Sure why not... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #10

Good idea but none of the redumbliCONs could pass it. democratisphere Apr 2017 #11

It may take a few years yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #13

Exactly loyalsister Apr 2017 #28

They drug test for jobs, why not this? JuJuYoshida Apr 2017 #12

The evidence of drugs is science; psychology is not. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #22

Psychology is not a science? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #35

It's not a "hard" science moondust Apr 2017 #85

So you are saying we need a Hard Science to come up with something yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #88

Well, Republicans moondust Apr 2017 #97

it is a requirement for some jobs drray23 Apr 2017 #15

l know right? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #17

Lincoln was extremely depressive, Kennedy appears to have had some sexual addiction. Who would you Squinch Apr 2017 #18

Again, everyone would be required to take the test yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #20

And if Lincoln's depression or Kennedy's sexual addiction had come out during their Squinch Apr 2017 #23

That is the past, I am talking about the future... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #26

The voters in this election knew Twitler(R) was crazy. It didn't stop them. But Squinch Apr 2017 #34

Again the final decision is with the voter. yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #38

Well, here's the thing: it wouldn't have prevented Trump, but it would have prevented Lincoln. Squinch Apr 2017 #42

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #53

In 1860, you think a person with a publicized "mental problem" could have been elected? Squinch Apr 2017 #56

Well first of all the American people did vote for Hillary yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #60

The more times you say things like this, SomethingNew Apr 2017 #107

The Results are there... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #118

The popular vote totally counted. Just not in the way you want. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #121

I think it should be. yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #124

The Electoral College MichMary Apr 2017 #140

No. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #21

Only if it's acceptable for you and the rest of the country to be required one loyalsister Apr 2017 #27

In some cases it is Required for yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #32

I have never seen where it is required for employment or education. Could you give some Squinch Apr 2017 #37

Many times I have gone for employment yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #40

I have had umpteen jobs, and have a bachelors and a masters degree. I have never Squinch Apr 2017 #45

I am talking about a test period. yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #50

Depends on how you define crazy. Depressive? Bipolar? Do you think there was Squinch Apr 2017 #52

FOR one thing, TRump wasn't elected by a majority of the Popular vote yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #58

There is a difference between most employment tests and pysch testing. Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #175

And yet people practice it in this country... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #179

Are you familiar with the concept of normal science? Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #182

What if it is revealed that the candidate has a mild learning disability? loyalsister Apr 2017 #44

THE TESTS would not disqualify anyone from running yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #48

A server at home doesn't disqualify anyone from running, but it sure can be blown up Squinch Apr 2017 #54

Than lets make sure the people who create the tests yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #55

How about the people commenting on the test results? Would they come from Fox News? Squinch Apr 2017 #57

Whats wrong with people talking about the results? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #62

"But, remember we all voted for Hillary" MichMary Apr 2017 #141

Surely there wouldn't be judgement passed loyalsister Apr 2017 #59

Maybe we should get rid of he Electoral College, yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #61

Until this year I never believed we would need a test FakeNoose Apr 2017 #30

No. It would be used against us. athena Apr 2017 #33

Well as it is , the majority of the people voted for Hillary yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #64

Was this supposed to be a response to another comment on the thread? athena Apr 2017 #86

No. Psych "tests" are practically useless for things that count. nolabear Apr 2017 #36

You said it well. And we had plenty of proof that Trump is crazy, but his voters didn't care. Squinch Apr 2017 #39

And the amount of those voters who didn't care didn't amount to much yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #72

I think that was a reference to his voters. People see what they need to see. nolabear Apr 2017 #83

Again knowledge is power... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #46

What tests? What do you imagine they'd be like? nolabear Apr 2017 #94

No idea, i am not a doctor yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #116

Mine is. It's extremely complicated and ongoing. nolabear Apr 2017 #139

Be careful what you wish for . . . MichMary Apr 2017 #142

Its supposed to be an election yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #145

I find it disturbing you don't have the foresight to see how this is a terrible idea. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #102

Than why is it the poll seems to indicate yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #117

Because they don't know what they're talking about? Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #120

wow, that's kind of a arrogant reply yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #123

I actually find you to be the most arrogant one in this entire discussion. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #146

well, okay than! yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #149

yep you nailed it steve2470 Apr 2017 #126

whatever tests they use on airline pilots Skittles Apr 2017 #41

You do realize there is no such test for airline pilots, yes? jberryhill Apr 2017 #65

they are routinely evaluated on how they handle stress Skittles Apr 2017 #75

Specifically how? jberryhill Apr 2017 #76

it says that in the article Skittles Apr 2017 #77

Sorry to be dense, but what article? jberryhill Apr 2017 #78

aw sorry, it's me being dense Skittles Apr 2017 #80

I react to stress just fine jberryhill Apr 2017 #81

well you know my penchant for threatening to kick ass Skittles Apr 2017 #82

Oddly enough jberryhill Apr 2017 #100

oh that's funny Skittles Apr 2017 #112

No greytdemocrat Apr 2017 #43

It could be, put in the parameters yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #47

Let a computer come up with the results?? MichMary Apr 2017 #143

provided the computer has not been compromised... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #178

Ah! Just like the voting machines here in Michigan! n/t MichMary Apr 2017 #183

I don't think you understand anything about psychological testing, and its limitations. Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #174

in theory yes in practice no dembotoz Apr 2017 #49

YES and its the VOTER WHO yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #51

Agreed but I fear test results reported by fox news dembotoz Apr 2017 #130

You know you post them on a website for all to see yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #131

How do we determine if the voters themselves are smart enough, or psychologically capable, of... Marengo Apr 2017 #137

YES retrowire Apr 2017 #69

There will be some people here against that too yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #70

We can save it Yui! retrowire Apr 2017 #79

Naw Retrowire, there are too many people who just think nothing will work yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #92

:( nt retrowire Apr 2017 #99

I'm gonna smoke a bowl, watch cartoons and eat Cheetos JuJuYoshida Apr 2017 #71

god girl, can i join you? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #73

And to be brought to you, no doubt, PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2017 #84

didn't you forget that it would have to be something yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #90

I can guarantee you that athena Apr 2017 #93

Nazi Germany - another example of psychologists providing important public service jberryhill Apr 2017 #114

oh come on Jberryhill... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #119

I have absolutely no idea what you are on about there jberryhill Apr 2017 #133

There is no one "non partisan". former9thward Apr 2017 #95

Trump isn't mentally ill - he has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. milestogo Apr 2017 #96

So, you are at ease about him running the country yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #150

The poster above identified Trump as having a personality disorder. From that you conclude, "So Squinch Apr 2017 #161

Not sure how that is happening yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #162

Psychological, no. Cognitive, yes. Warpy Apr 2017 #98

That's a genuinely terrible, uninformed idea. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #101

Hey, it worked for the Soviet Union! jberryhill Apr 2017 #104

I can't wait until we can decide which babies will be good Presidents. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #115

Better look up what I'm talkiing about before you try to blast me to smithereens Warpy Apr 2017 #106

I guarantee that whatever cognitive test it is you're advocating for, it is biased. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #109

Oh, my Warpy Apr 2017 #110

This is not "willful ignorance" jberryhill Apr 2017 #113

After the last election, I wonder if voters should. L. Coyote Apr 2017 #105

Should certain outcomes be grounds for disenfranchising voters? Marengo Apr 2017 #136

The outcomes would be shared with the public to help yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #151

Understood, but I believe the poster I was responding to was suggesting voters should be tested... Marengo Apr 2017 #176

voters tested? No , that would be the same as having to buy yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #180

Pretty scary that this has majority support. SomethingNew Apr 2017 #108

Yes, but it wouldn't be very exclusive psychologically. I would prefer... Buckeye_Democrat Apr 2017 #122

With all due respect my friend, yuiyoshida, I understand the rationale but... steve2470 Apr 2017 #125

Finding the voting yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #129

Something needs to be done to prevent a psychopath from becoming president. Doodley Apr 2017 #127

Every healthy democracy marks dissidents as mentally ill. AngryAmish Apr 2017 #132

Clever little allegation. LanternWaste Apr 2017 #134

You do realize there's huge potential for a requirement like this to be abused. Calista241 Apr 2017 #135

The Republicans have already abused the system yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #160

Probably not, people who are psychologically "normal" don't run for president (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Apr 2017 #138

Why would any politician ever agree to take a test where they best they can do is gain nothing, hughee99 Apr 2017 #144

The test would be a requirement yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #155

So you're going to have a constitutional convention and THIS is what you're going to look to change? hughee99 Apr 2017 #177

That's not what I heard.... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #181

The electoral college "put him into office" because hughee99 Apr 2017 #184

Until this election, I would have said no, but we're in a really bad situation here. Vinca Apr 2017 #147

problem is, who selects the "Non partisan Medical experts"? 0rganism Apr 2017 #148

Lets take for example Bill Nye the Science guy yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #153

hard to say, i don't know him very well 0rganism Apr 2017 #158

Well who chooses football players for the NFL? yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #159

i don't think the NFL is going to work as an analogy for our national democracy 0rganism Apr 2017 #163

Well lets put the truth out on the table. yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #168

I am really surprised at these results (and not in a good way). n/t demmiblue Apr 2017 #152

I think people are having a visceral, gut reaction to the election. Gravitycollapse Apr 2017 #154

Fuck no. MicaelS Apr 2017 #156

If you are running for President yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #157

Candidates are not required to reveal details of their private lives. Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #172

not required but some newspaper will dig... yuiyoshida Apr 2017 #173

No. Few people would understand the results, and the ordeal of running for president lets us all Yo_Mama Apr 2017 #164

As a Registered Nurse, I don't believe in stigmatizing mental illness more than it already is Heddi Apr 2017 #185