Thoughts on the popular vote vs. Electoral College

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by Denny Crane, Dec 13, 2010.

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  1. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    I have to ask again if you know what you're trying to say.
     
    Denny Crane, Dec 14, 2010
    #81
  2. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    That's too bad. Apparently your reading comprehension is really terrible, since I just answered that question.

    Or do you mean you have some sort of compulsion to ask questions repeatedly? If so I recommend Brandon Roy's psychologist.

    barfo
     
    barfo, Dec 14, 2010
    #82
  3. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    He was answering non-questions.

    Our current system is a farce, and a poor representation of what most Americans THINK is a democracy.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #83
  4. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Here's one. It's dishonest and easily controlled by outside interests. It's sole reason for being is to circumvent the popular vote when certain people want other results.

    Oh, wait, that's two.

    He must have deleted it, leaving only that silly post of ramblings about Clinton.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #84
  5. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Do you want barfo to use smaller words? Or me to use smaller words?

    Though for barfo's benefit, smaller words don't do much for me.
     
    Denny Crane, Dec 14, 2010
    #85
  6. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    I haven't read the thread, but...if indirect voting is good, why not extend it to all other elections? Why not have the people elect a committee who will elect a committee who will elect the City Dogcatcher? For every single election in the country? ...if you really believe in indirect elections. This would serve as insulation against a really bad dogcatcher being elected. Or City Councilman, Water District Commissioner, State Senator, Congressman, you name it.

    It's called Byzantine politics (or just backroom wheel dealing in a room filled with cigar smoke) and it caused European revolutions throughout the 1800s in favor of its opposite, Democracy.
     
    jlprk, Dec 14, 2010
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  7. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Nobody is given the opportunity to "vote on things that have nothing to do with them". If it is on your ballot, it has something to do with you.

    That's why the Miami mayoral election is not on my ballot.

    Nor does Portland vote as a liberal block.

    Right-wingers should all move to Portland if they want to change the balance of the Portland vote.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #87
  8. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Certainly not.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
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  9. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    We have indirect elections for every senator and every representative. You can't vote for representatives not running in your district, nor can you vote for senator of some state you don't live in. What makes it indirect is they hold national offices and the nation isn't able to vote for or against them.

    The reasons for holding an indirect election for president are many, though on this specific question I would answer that the current scheme provides for a more independent office of the president. No matter how big one state's population might be, and how wildly popular a candidate might be in that state, it's nowhere near enough to win an electoral college election.

    And as I've pointed out a few times, the electoral college scheme means the winner wins by an absolute majority. Consider the 2000 election again, Gore v. Bush. Gore won the popular vote by a plurality of 48.38%, yet 51.62% (a majority) didn't want him.

    Imagine the recount, too, if it had to be nationwide. Recount 105M ballots or so.
     
    Denny Crane, Dec 14, 2010
    #89
  10. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    This is totally innaccurate.

    About half of Oregon is Public Lands (belonging to all Americans), with no voting inhabitants on it.

    A rather surprising mistake for a geography major to make.

    So, to be fair and accurate, Dudley was the loser both in total votes and in geographical support.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #90
  11. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    You add no credibility to your dubious arguement by citing what is widely known to be a fraudulently contrived election result. :tsktsk:
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #91
  12. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Clinton won in 1992, yet 57% of the voters didn't want him. More than 50% didn't want him again in 1996.

    Happy now?
     
    Denny Crane, Dec 14, 2010
    #92
  13. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Nor would that be the case if one was using the popular vote. Take CA, for example. 10% of the electoral votes, 12% of the population. Neither number is big enough to win the election.

    barfo
     
    barfo, Dec 14, 2010
    #93
  14. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    I'm always happy. It's a wonderful life here in Beautiful Central Oregon.

    You are misquoting what those numbers mean.

    There is no way to express by voting that you don't want a Presidential candidate, because they run as a team. Maybe they wanted Clinton, but couldn't stand Gore? I would never vote for anyone who had Lieberman as a VP. Doesn't mean they wouldn't still be my first choice for President.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #94
  15. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Except that in a popular vote system, George would only have 1 vote, like you or I.

    No it wouldn't. Popular vote means exactly that. Whomever gets the most votes, with no other strings attached.

    For a Libertarian you certainly seem to have control and trust issues.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #95
  16. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
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  17. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    I have no problem understanding barfo's posts, and I have no trouble reading yours. It's just that yours don't illustrate any relevant arguement or evidence.
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
    #97
  18. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    We don't have national popular votes for members of Congress. We do, however, have popular votes for members of Congress. The voting population doesn't have to be the whole nation (or the whole world) for the vote to be a popular vote.
     
    Minstrel, Dec 14, 2010
    #98
  19. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    My mistake. I thought then-Senator Obama had visited all 57 states.
     
    maxiep, Dec 14, 2010
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  20. huevonkiller

    huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

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    Florida is the God state of the electoral college, so keep it please. :)
     
    huevonkiller, Dec 15, 2010
    #100
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