Why your Presidential vote means nothing.

[headcase]

It still amazes me how many people don't realise that while they get to cast a ballot for President, their vote, in the grand scheme of things, means nothing.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

[tdyoung58]

yeah, unfortunatly the electoral college can even give the vote to the person who loses the populous vote if they choose.

PA is one of the 48 states that have adopted a winner take all popular vote rule.

[ThomasJ]

yeah, unfortunatly the electoral college can even give the vote to the person who loses the populous vote if they choose.

There's nothing unfortunate about it. Our founding fathers did not create a democracy; in fact, they were fearful of a democracy. What is unfortunate is that states have tied the votes of their electors to the popular vote. It is the right of the state to choose their electors. They could choose Aunt Millie's sewing circle if they so desired, but unfortunately some state constitutions tie it to the popular vote.

"Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

[ThomasJ]

It still amazes me how many people don't realise that while they get to cast a ballot for President, their vote, in the grand scheme of things, means nothing.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

The highest office people should be allowed to vote for would be U.S. Representative.

[1861]

Thomas J would be right if we still went by the constitution , which sadly we don,t .

[headcase]

Thomas J would be right if we still went by the constitution , which sadly we don,t .

I would amend that statement to read," ...if we still went by the Constitution, which sadly we only do when it suits us...".

The electors, individually, have the right to cast their vote for whom ever they like, no matter what the tradition or guidelines of a State say.

[762xIan]

yeah, unfortunatly the electoral college can even give the vote to the person who loses the populous vote if they choose.

Like Clinton in '92 or '96?....or Bush in 2000? Neither had a popular mandate. It is not a popularity contest, you are a citizen of your state, you vote how your state is to vote.

Fantastic system if you ask me, large country, and the system gives small regions of little population a modicum of power because of the EC. Obama and McCain travelling all over hotly contested states for EC votes for example.

If not, what would a candidate do? Campaign in California, New York, Florida and Texas....then win a popular vote. The rest of the country is ignored and not represented.

While not perfect, I'll take the EC system over mob rule anyday.

Now if we can only go back to the States (legislatures) and not the people electing our Senators....that would be a good return to founding principles and a check on the Federal Gov.

[HiredGoon]

I dunno, I just sometimes get the feeling that THEY* have already made THEIR* choice as to who will be president and we the people are just going thru the motions by voting.

*The powerful people who control things and run the country and that we the little people have no idea who they are or how it is done.

But, yes, I am going to vote.

[Kimba]

Interesting map on how things are going.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...ama_vs_mccain/

[762xIan]

I dunno, I just sometimes get the feeling that THEY* have already made THEIR* choice as to who will be president and we the people are just going thru the motions by voting.

*The powerful people who control things and run the country and that we the little people have no idea who they are or how it is done.

But, yes, I am going to vote.

I agree...."they" have picked for us the "appoved" candidates.

I was mainly speaking of the system itself being good....at one time that is. Nowadays.....not so much. Our politicians are bought and paid for, we are NOT represented in the least.