Bill Clinton made much of his electoral college victory to give credence to the notion that he had a "mandate" from the American people to implement his policies. He, who won 43% of the popular vote. It all depends on who's ox is being Gored. Robin Blankenship ----- Original Message ----- From: <DGPEAKE@AOL.COM> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 10:56 PM Subject: Re: Politics! > In a message dated 11/10/00 8:40:29 AM Pacific Standard Time, > sckline@home.com writes: > > << > >One good thing about the electoral college is that it disallows the more > >populous states to "outvote" the smaller states. > > I'm afraid I have to disagree. What it does is to distort the campaign > strategies to favor the states which are undecided. Those in states, > large or small, where the outcome is pretty certain will get ignored, > while those states which might go either way get all the attention, > especially if they are large states. > > But that is neither here nor there. The question is whether anyone's > vote should count less than anyone else's. I don't think it should > matter where you live. Also, the electoral college clouds the outcome, > since electors in several states are permitted to vote against the > popular vote in their states, if they choose. They usually don't > choose to, but they are allowed to. In other states, if they vote > against the popular vote, they go to jail. The whole system is > arbitrary and unjust. Maybe it made sense in the 18th century, but > it doesn't now. > > I think that the electoral college should be dissolved before the > next presidential election. Actually, it should have been dissolved > 70 years ago. MHO. > > Susan > > >> > > The electoral college allows each state to have representation, regardless of > its size. It makes the candidates visit the smaller states, otherwise they > would only go to large metropolitan city's. I would not like the large states > like California make the decisions for the rest of the country. > > Dave Peake, RPT > Portland Chapter > Oregon City, OR > www.davespianoworks.locality.com
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