News-Record.com

I had always heard that the Electoral System was put in place because the Founders didn't trust the American People to educate themselves enough to make a wise choice and that provided a buffer.

If that's true - the clearly the Founders were right.

I think these days the Electoral System demotivates people - I mean was the last time NC went other than Republican .. or Maryland went other than Democrat?

Great Point JDR.

This says it all:
"The writer is chairman, Alamance County Republican Party."

Wonder if dear ole Robert would feel that way in say 1980? 1984? 1988?

I know the answer to 2000 though! While I have problems with this piece of legislation, someone other than a partisan person writing this LTTE would have given me greater influence to deal with it.

Shalom

If any change were needed to the electoral college system, it would be proportional allotment rather than any sort of "winner take all." In the matter of the presidential votes, my voice as a North Carolina voter has NEVER been heard. So this isn't even a representitive democracy. Pfeh!

I’m not sure what my position is on the topic. I Googled proportional allotment and found this article by Hank Kalet the managing editor of the South Brunswick (NJ) Post and the Cranberry Press. (Honestly, it was the best I could do – however, his biog said he’s a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, which should count for something.) It has a good analysis of the electoral system and alternatives.

http://www.fairvote.org/e_college/southbrunswick.htm

Whatever tangible and meaningful message is being relayed by this letter is completely destroyed by the author's insistence on rabid partisanship.

I would support a law that guarantees that NC will give all electoral votes to the person who wins the STATEWIDE popular vote. Not sure if that exact law is in place.

Otherwise, I'd agree with the writer regardless of what year the elections were held. If you're going to have an electoral system, have an electoral system. Don't try to fashion something as dumb or dumber than what exists. This is pure politics at play.

I do not like the way the electoral college. The fact that the electors can vote any way they want seems tainted to me.

I'd be comfortable with a strictly popular vote election or an overhauled electoral college. But I think what the NC senate did makes little sense.

The Electoral College and the original (pre-17th Amendment) non-popular election of Senators served the purpose of setting up a federal government not designed to directly rule the people. The federal government was to be a government of the states, not the people. The founder recognized that the people should have SOME say in what goes on the in federal government since the federal government would have SOME say over the people, so they created the popularly elected House of Representatives, whereas the president and Senators were chosen by the states.

Look at the powers specifically enumerated for the Congress by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. With the exceptions of "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts..." and "Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises," you won't find any power related to directly ruling the people. Everything else has to do with coordinating state governments, such as providing for a military, uniform currency, etc.

The founders left direct rule of the people to the states, a much better system than currently exists. (sigh)

I agree Paul. We're using a system of rules designed for another form of government. Neither is working too well.