This election might have been a mess but it had more to do with the participants than the Electoral College. Before everyone jumps on the bandwagon to dump the Electoral College, it would be good to remember why the framers put it in the Constitution.
For one thing, the elite didn’t trust the intelligence of the electorate, something that hasn’t changed much. But the reason it is still relevant today is that it gives the smaller states a voice. In order to get the smaller states to ratify the Constitution, the framers had to include two senators for each state and the Electoral College.
Think about it. If we go to a popular vote, the presidential candidates would have no reason to campaign in any area other than the population centers. It might be nice that they won’t be coming out here so often with their traffic-stopping motorcades, but then they won’t be thinking about our interests much, either. They will be making copious promises to New York, California, Florida and other voting blocs and to heck with the rest. It might make the major parties happy but it is not fair to the rest of the country.
Of course, I realize in today’s me-me society most may not care about fairness for others but remember there are more small states. Since it will take a constitutional amendment to make the change you have to believe the smaller states are not going to ratify their political demise. Because of that, it is a moot argument.
Snohomish
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