1. We, the United States, are a Republic not a Democracy.
2. Although the direct vote would be nice in theory, in practice it would become tyranny of the majority not to mention a politician would never care what you think if you lived in anything but a huge city.
Basically it all boils down to if you don't want your voice heard go for the direct vote but if you do want it heard and you do want a safeguard against the tyranny of the majority than Electoral College is a better system. The district level would also be nice but it may also lead to the same problems of direct vote.
An the number of electoral votes is 538. You just forgot to add the senators to the tally.
In its over 200 year history, the electoral college has received its share of criticism and praise. The following is a list of the most frequently made comments of the Electoral College.
Pros:
* Requires a distribution of popular support to be elected president- the winning candidate must demonstrate both a sufficient popular support to govern as well as a sufficient distribution of that support to govern
* Strengthens the status of minority groups- the votes of small minorities within a state may make the difference between winning all of a states electoral votes or none of them.
* Enhances the political stability of the nation by promoting a two-party system- protects that presidency from impassioned but transitory third party movements and forces the major parties to absorb the interests of minorities.
* Maintains the federal system of government and representation
Cons:
* There is a possibility of electing a minority president- one way for this to happen would be if the country was so deeply divided politically that three or more presidential candidates split the vote and no one obtained a necessary majority
* There is a risk of having "faithless" Electors- Electors who wont be loyal to their party or candidate
* The Electoral College may depress voter turnout- because each state is only entitled to so many electoral votes regardless of voter turnout, there is no incentive for states to encourage voter participation
*
Does not accurately reflect the national popular will because it does not elect a candidate by a direct popular vote
People can argue it forever, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't do what its supposed to do. Why, in a country where the majority of the citizens vote for a candidate, can the opposing candidate win? It made sense when it was put into effect but it has become a national process which respectable foreign governments laugh at.
My vote, GO! We don't need it broken down by district...we don't even need it at all.
Americans, on average, are idiots. They don't know what they want; that's why we have Electoral College. The representatives there take what the masses say and try to cater to that; but the average person doesn't know enough about the candidates, or even politics as a whole, to know what choice is the right one. The representatives have the time and training to decide which choice is really the best. If we lived in a pure democracy, we would end up with all kinds of leaders that look good at first, but end up as terrible officials.
People can argue it forever, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't do what its supposed to do. Why, in a country where the majority of the citizens vote for a candidate, can the opposing candidate win? It made sense when it was put into effect but it has become a national process which respectable foreign governments laugh at.
My vote, GO! We don't need it broken down by district...we don't even need it at all.
The problem is most of our nation is rural. With popular vote, you don't have to visit rural areas, because they don't matter because most of the population lives in urban areas. Basically it makes it so you need the whole state behind you and not just one part of it.
well electoral college or not..why do you think there is no lack of interest as far as voting is concerned?
I've been to other countries where people are so ridiculously passionate about voting. i've seen people carry paralyzed people into polling booths, so every vote can count. Are Americans just used to this good life and their standard of living?
Lets over simplify and stereotype too, just for the sake of debate.
(I voted Keep; I am a middle class 28 year old white male)
Here is my problem with Direct Vote. Deep South, Alabama Republican, Redneck will always out vote Urban California Gangbanger Brotha.
Minoritys (in general) are not interested in the voting system, and that doesn't mean their voice shouldn't be heard.
In a direct vote system a smaller state, with a smaller population, (with potentially radical views) could decide an election just because they have a bigger turn out. Voting isn't hot **** everywhere, some places it is.
Canidates like Barrack and Hilary would never even try to run, there is no way they would ever win.
There are a lot of votes you can't win if you aren't a middle aged rich white man, and new blood, new ideas, new foundations aren't a bad thing.
Americans, on average, are idiots. They don't know what they want; that's why we have Electoral College. The representatives there take what the masses say and try to cater to that; but the average person doesn't know enough about the candidates, or even politics as a whole, to know what choice is the right one. The representatives have the time and training to decide which choice is really the best. If we lived in a pure democracy, we would end up with all kinds of leaders that look good at first, but end up as terrible officials.
Didn't the electoral college vote in Bush.... i'm pretty sure he didn't turn out very well.
Electoral Collage... Stay or Go
