Quote:
Originally posted by gothweb
I once actually saw the math proving why we need the electoral college system. I find it vastlyt preferable to the popular vote.
Why? Because otherwise, it would be very, very easy to win the US Presidential election by campaigning only in major cities. That's where most of the population actually is. A candidate who appealed to city-dwellers could really leave behind the rest of the country. It's one of many instances when the Constitution helps safeguard a minority group against the majority. It makes for more well-rounded candidates and campaigning.
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If there's one thing where the minority should not get artificial protection, it's democracy. Representative democracy is about giving the majority the power to decide who rules the country.
The electoral college system is totally and utterly ridiculous. Every vote counts? Only in swing states. And, even then, some votes count more than others, depending on where one lives.
The idea that basing elections on the popular vote would cause politicians to only focus on those living in the big cities is nonsense. Exactly because every vote would count, politicians would be forced to appeal to as many voters as possible. They'd even be forced to do extensive campaigning in those states where they're sure to get a minority of the votes.