• Fades@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Sure

      The electoral college allows states with far less people to have the same amount of power as those with far denser populations

      It made sense in the past but no longer, and instead at times goes against the majority will of the people a la Trump and many previous examples

      • WhatIsThePointAnyway@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        It never made sense. It was literally created to make sure voters could be overruled in the event the ruling class (party insiders) disagreed with their choice. It was justified to stop “mob rule” also known as the will of we the people.

        • WildPalmTree@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          It did make sense, but I understand why it might not seem like it to “modern Americans”. In fact, it’s quite an interesting mental challenge of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.

          We have a similar issue today in the EU. Do we base it one “one country, one vote” or on “one person, one vote”? Both sides of the argument is valid. Why would small countries join if they give up complete independence to the giants? I imagine the situation was very similar when the US was formed.

          I think the flaw in the US system is they failed to forsee that states (or rather, people) would see themselves as one country and not a collection of countries. There should have been a time limit on the discrepancy of voting power.

          Sure, for a hundred years, a state is where your loyalty, your feeling of self, your center is at. But as time moves on, you are less an Ohioian and more of s USian. Similarly, I would hope, you are less of a German and more of an EUian.

          Neither blocks seem to have taken this into consideration but it makes it none the less true. Future generations paying the price for previous. Yada yada…

      • recapitated@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        I agree with you that it’s outdated and a terrible fit.

        Until we effectively replace it in law, unfortunately, it’s literally not illegitimate.

      • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        I think a big reason why turning Texas Blue is such a priority, once that happens the GOP will be glad to get rid of the electoral college.

    • nickwitha_k (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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      6 months ago

      In 1929, Congress passed the Reapportionment Act, loving the House of Representatives at 435. Due to population growth in largely coastal states, and the requirement of at least one Representative per state, the House, which was intended to provide representation proportional to population, instead give a significant amount of power to states with lower population densities, resulting in a tendency towards minority rule in the House. Since the number of Electoral College votes are proportional to a state’s delegation to Congress, this also gives low-population states an outsized influence over the Presidential election, contrary to the intent of the US Constitution.

      • Fades@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        The electoral college allows states with far less people to have the same amount of power as those with far denser populations

        It’s not rocket science, and yes I trust spellcheck too much