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turbinetree

(24,631 posts)
Thu Dec 5, 2019, 11:02 AM Dec 2019

Five Common Misconceptions About the Electoral College

Defenders of the Electoral College argue that it was created to combat majority tyranny and support federalism, and that it continues to serve those purposes. This stance depends on a profound misunderstanding of the history of the institution.

November 29, 2019
G. Alan Tarr
Board of Governors Professor at Rutgers University-Camden

Two of the nation’s last three presidents won the presidency in the Electoral College, even though they lost the popular vote nationwide. In 2000, Al Gore outpolled George W. Bush by more than 540,000 votes but lost in the Electoral College, 271–266. Sixteen years later, Hillary Clinton tallied almost 3 million more votes than Donald Trump but lost decisively in the Electoral College, 306–232. And, as a recent New York Times poll suggested, the 2020 election could very well again deliver the presidency to the loser of the popular vote.

Despite this, defenders of the Electoral College argue that it was created to combat majority tyranny and support federalism, and that it continues to serve those purposes. For example, Representative Dan Crenshaw of Texas, responding to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent criticism of the Electoral College, tweeted that “we live in a republic, which means 51% of the population doesn’t get to boss around the other 49%,” and that the Electoral College “promotes more equal regional representation and protects the interests of sparsely populated states.”

But arguments like these are flawed, misunderstanding the pertinent history. Below, I identify five common mistakes made in arguing for the preservation of the Electoral College.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/five-common-misconceptions-about-electoral-college/602596/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

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Five Common Misconceptions About the Electoral College (Original Post) turbinetree Dec 2019 OP
It is the Achilles' heel of the Constitution which is being exploited to perpetuate minority rule dalton99a Dec 2019 #1
Agreed....... and when Crenshaw made his remarks...........................to AOC................... turbinetree Dec 2019 #2
Beat me to it and I'm glad BigOleDummy Dec 2019 #3
Your welcome........................ turbinetree Dec 2019 #4
The majority tyranny argument is bs Midnightwalk Dec 2019 #5

dalton99a

(81,065 posts)
1. It is the Achilles' heel of the Constitution which is being exploited to perpetuate minority rule
Thu Dec 5, 2019, 11:08 AM
Dec 2019

The Electoral College and two-senator-per-state rule


turbinetree

(24,631 posts)
2. Agreed....... and when Crenshaw made his remarks...........................to AOC...................
Thu Dec 5, 2019, 11:10 AM
Dec 2019

it just proves that he doe not not believe in majority rule..................

BigOleDummy

(2,260 posts)
3. Beat me to it and I'm glad
Thu Dec 5, 2019, 12:10 PM
Dec 2019

This needs to be read as soon as possible and by as many as possible. ESPECIALLY those of us with a leftist political view to counter these asshat repukelicans "arguments". Thank you for posting

Midnightwalk

(3,131 posts)
5. The majority tyranny argument is bs
Thu Dec 5, 2019, 12:17 PM
Dec 2019

Asserting that 51% shouldn’t be able to boss around 49% but ignoring that 49% is bossing around 51% is intellectually dishonest.

I think the percentages are worse than that and will get worse. The divide in the country is urban rural not regional.

If the major divide in the country was regional then someone might put together an argument for how a regional system protects minority rights. The senate is set up that way but I don’t agree that works well now and maybe never did.

The presidency is a single office so it is inherently winner take all. The electoral college doesn’t protect minority rights, it gives us the tyranny of the minority.

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