 Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Matt, I can't really explain it, but here's the Wikipedia page on the Electoral College. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,500
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,500 |
Quote:
For those of us who don't live in the US version of a democracy, can someone explain to me why a given candidate winning only a few particular states will guarantee them the presidency? It seems like they're saying "Oh I know that these 20 states will vote for me, and those 20 states will vote for him, so the race is only for the remaining few undecided states." which from a foreign perspective seems an odd way of doing things.
The answer is simple. It's right there in our name- The United States of America. The states that make up the country, not the people, actually elect the President. The people of each state vote for who they would like to be elected. After the election the memebers of the electoral college meet in there perspective state, and the their votes are submitted to Washington. It is important to note, that the memebers of the electoral are not required to vote the way their state did. They always do of course, but they do not have to. The reason for all of this was that the founders had the repressive British government fresh on their minds (sorry guys!), and they wanted the states to retain control of the election process rather than have the elections controlled by the federal government. There are other reasons for it as well, but that's a historically significant one.
Learning from my mistakes... again and again.
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
It's actually pretty simple to explain, John. The Electoral College was a brokered deal by the framers of the Constitution which appeased the smaller populated states into signing the Constitution because they were afraid the larger populated states would out-vote their preference for a President, and thus in essence it gave each and every vote coming from the smaller states slightly more value than those votes cast in more populated states. (you see, the more things change, the more they stay the same...and so, can you say "Big City Elitists" and "Small Town Values", everybody???)   Yep! I know, I know, Sandmann. Now you'd THINK in this day and age that a SIMPLE NATIONWIDE ONE MAN-ONE VOTE SYSTEM would be the way to go, wouldn't ya?! You know, a system where the candidate who actually GARNERED the most votes in this NATION would ALWAYS WIN, which hasn't always happened, BTW. You know, maybe a system would might help rid us of often DIVISIVE NOTION which since the advent of color television has become known the "Red States" and the "Blue States". But naaaah! THAT would be MUCH too easy! And besides the folks with the "ALL the Good Ol' Small Town Values" in this country would NEVER go for somethin' like that anyway, because all those darn "Big City Elitists" might always decide who would win the ONLY SINGULAR NATIONAL ELECTIVE OFFICE FOR WHICH EVERY AMERICAN HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE!!! (and now I know I'll be hearing from some of the folks in the smaller states any time now...BUT IF you DO wish to question my history here, I have to warn ya...I DO KNOW my U.S.History, folks...and soooooo...BEWARE!!!)
Last edited by Dwight; 11/05/2008 10:32 AM.
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362 |
Well, thanks for the info folks... there's a similar thing here for changes to the constitution... there must be a majority of states AND individual votes in favour of any proposed change - makes it really hard to change the constitution but still possible if everyone wants the change. Still, I gotta say, you yanks are all weird.
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
As a result of my periodic insomnia, I just found out Obama won.
With all politics aside -- For a country that not so long ago accepted people of color as slaves, to now accept and endorse as President, it makes me proud to say I'm an American.
Best to you, President Obama.
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 534
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 534 |
well done america we here in europe like america to be democrats instead of republican god bless democracy  
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Re: "Get out the vote!"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438 |
Well then, I would have to say that I am sad that those in Europe are happy.
Ride On!
Airguy
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You gotta' be smart to be lazy(and get a job done)
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