10-24-2011, 09:10 PM
$tevie wrote:
[quote=Ted King]
Can anyone provide a good argument for retaining the Electoral College?
The argument is that we are not a democracy, but a Constitutional Republic, which the Founding Fathers created on purpose in an effort to have small low population areas have at least some of the clout of large highly populated areas. Also, as billb pointed out, to make an election taking place in multiple states manageable.
"Hence it is that democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths... A republic, by which I mean a government in which a scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking." ~~James Madison
In reference to both you and Bill's posts, I thought the reason the Electoral College came about was as a comprimise between Congress and the people. The people wanted the right to elect the President. Congress wanted the right to elect the president. This coupled with another reason historically referenced (the only other one I can find) is the logistics of running a pure popular vote (whatever that may mean).
In modern times, that shouldn't be an issue. And recounts of every state/county shouldn't be required unless the margin was required for a victory was within the statistical possibility of error (for that precinct?).