Electoral college system undemocratic

[TheForeigner]

I, like most people here, am glad that Trump was elected as president of the US, but am sad that he lost the popular vote and only won by getting more electors through the electoral college system. In my opinion that is an outdated and undemocratic system of electing the president. I think it should be changed to a popular vote system. The constitution would be slightly modified. It ain't the first time. Senators used to be elected by state legislatures until the end of the 19th century. What do you guys think?

[TheForeigner]

bump

[Linebacker]

Its very ironic,because Trump said many times in his campaign the Electoral college is phony,rigged,should be abolished,and later it basically gave him his victory

[TheForeigner]

bump

[Poise n Pen]

No, because then they would focus even more on urban shitholes for votes and completely neglect most of the country (ie actual americans).

[Sarmatian]

Electoral College was created to keep states together once they had won independence from British Empire. Initially states were more or less independent entities and to bunch them under one federal government they needed some system that would treat them as such. Electoral College served the idea perfectly - each state conducting its own presidential election independently of all others and after that electors from each state coming together and voting at College assembly. This way legal independence of each state is respected.

However in modern realities the system is rather outdated and has been called to contradict principles of democracy.

[Scholarios]

Possibly, but on the other hand, EC was created to stop the masses from electing someone like the Donald. It is a safety measure against the mob.

[Sarmatian]

Possibly, but on the other hand, EC was created to stop the masses from electing someone like the Donald. It is a safety measure against the mob.

You have to consider situation in realities of the time. Back then it wasn't like you describing it, it's rather modern usage of it.

[Poise n Pen]

Also the EC system helps with preventing fraud. In "certain areas" ie NY, Chicago and LA voter fraud is RAMPANT. Without EC they could just say everyone in NYC and LA voted a certain way and thast's it, election over.

[Scholarios]

You have to consider situation in realities of the time. Back then it wasn't like you describing it, it's rather modern usage of it.

I think of it rather the opposite, modern liberal democratic sensibilities don't permit this explanation, but i always thought it was indeed what the "Founding Fathers" had in mind. I am no expert though.

“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths” (The Federalist, no. 10).

and

In all cases where a majority are united by a common interest or passion, the rights of the minority are in danger

Unbridled passions produce the same effects, whether in a king, nobility, or a mob. The experience of all mankind has proved the prevalence of a disposition to use power wantonly. It is therefore as necessary to defend an individual against the majority [in a democracy] as against the king in a monarchy.…”

I suppose its rather ad nauseum to ascribe to the early Americans these kind of philosopher king qualities, still, it seems to fit in this case.