I am saddened by Julian Taber’s July 23 letter “Electoral College needs to be fixed.” Unfortunately this seems to be the prevailing view among those who don’t understand its roots or take exception to its results.
The founding fathers were all educated men with a keen grasp of history. They knew that if the United States became a pure democracy with “majority rule” it could very easily suffer the same fate as Rome.
The Electoral College was set up to be a balance between what was right for the country and the wishes of the people. Originally its members were the top people of the day. It stood between the uneducated, easily swayed voter and reason. If the Electoral College envisioned by our founding fathers was being used properly, we would have no need to fear. Unfortunately, the current makeup makes it a meaningless exercise.
The Roman electorate learned that they could vote themselves largess from the public trough. As they did so, the ability to replenish their country faltered and it largely collapsed under the weight of its own corruption. If you look at the makeup of the United States today you will find that those on the receiving end of tax dollars in the form of public assistance are outnumbering and outvoting those who are paying the taxes. Instead of teaching personal responsibility, one of the major political parties is capitalizing on this, creating artificial divisions between the haves and have-nots, demanding new entitlements and creating strife and resentment.
We are at a critical junction in our nation’s history. The recipients of public funds are organizing and supporting the candidates who will redistribute the wealth of our nation into their pockets. Unscrupulous politicians, more interested in their own careers than doing what is right, are courting them to the detriment of our country.
Yes, the Electoral College needs to be fixed. Restore it to its original intended purpose. The republic you save may very well be ours.
Ben Rosander
Marysville
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