Comments on: Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/ News and Opinion on Politics and Media Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:12:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: joreko http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433661 joreko Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:58:13 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433661 The major shortcoming of the current system of electing the President arises from the winner-take-all rule (currently used by 48 of 50 states) under which all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most votes in the state. If the partisan divide in a state is not initially closer than about 46%-54%, no amount of campaigning during a brief presidential campaign is realistically going to reverse the outcome in the state. As a result, presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or worry about the concerns in voters of states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. Instead, candidates concentrate their attention on a handful of closely divided “battleground” states. As a result, 88% of the money and visits (and attention) is focused on just 9 states. Fully 99% of the money goes to just 16 states. More than two-thirds of the country is left out. Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill is enacted in a group of states possessing 270 or more electoral votes, all of the electoral votes from those states would be awarded, as a bloc, to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The National Popular Vote bill has 366 legislative sponsors in 47 states. It has been signed into law in Maryland. Since its introduction in February 2006, the bill has passed by 12 legislative houses (one house in Colorado, Arkansas, New Jersey, and North Carolina, and two houses in Maryland, Illinois, Hawaii, and California). See www.NationalPopularVote.com The major shortcoming of the current system of electing the President arises from the winner-take-all rule (currently used by 48 of 50 states) under which all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most votes in the state. If the partisan divide in a state is not initially closer than about 46%-54%, no amount of campaigning during a brief presidential campaign is realistically going to reverse the outcome in the state. As a result, presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or worry about the concerns in voters of states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. Instead, candidates concentrate their attention on a handful of closely divided “battleground” states. As a result, 88% of the money and visits (and attention) is focused on just 9 states. Fully 99% of the money goes to just 16 states. More than two-thirds of the country is left out.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill is enacted in a group of states possessing 270 or more electoral votes, all of the electoral votes from those states would be awarded, as a bloc, to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The National Popular Vote bill has 366 legislative sponsors in 47 states. It has been signed into law in Maryland. Since its introduction in February 2006, the bill has passed by 12 legislative houses (one house in Colorado, Arkansas, New Jersey, and North Carolina, and two houses in Maryland, Illinois, Hawaii, and California).

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

]]> By: 25 Stories to Read at Florida Progressive Coalition Blog http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433445 25 Stories to Read at Florida Progressive Coalition Blog Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:24:28 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433445 [...] Pensito Review - Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant: “Florida Democrats were told our campaign blackout was essential to the electoral process, to preserve the system that lets Iowa and New Hampshire — two of our whitest states — choose first.” [...] [...] Pensito Review – Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant: “Florida Democrats were told our campaign blackout was essential to the electoral process, to preserve the system that lets Iowa and New Hampshire — two of our whitest states — choose first.” [...]

]]> By: Jon Ponder http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433273 Jon Ponder Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:38:19 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433273 I think we should ditch the Constitution and start over with a parliamentary system, which is the system used by every democracy in the world but ours and the Philippines. Just for starters: - No presidential elections ever -- prime minister is elected by his or her colleagues from the parliament. - The prime minister can be recalled at any time. - Elections can be held outside the rigorous every-two-years rule we have. - Campaigning only lasts five weeks. - Every cabinet member is a member of parliament and thus subject to the voters' will. - Smaller, more representative districts. - Easily accommodates many more than two parties. - No Senate. - No Executive Branch. I think we should ditch the Constitution and start over with a parliamentary system, which is the system used by every democracy in the world but ours and the Philippines.

Just for starters:
- No presidential elections ever — prime minister is elected by his or her colleagues from the parliament.
- The prime minister can be recalled at any time.
- Elections can be held outside the rigorous every-two-years rule we have.
- Campaigning only lasts five weeks.
- Every cabinet member is a member of parliament and thus subject to the voters’ will.
- Smaller, more representative districts.
- Easily accommodates many more than two parties.
- No Senate.
- No Executive Branch.

]]> By: Sighorny Beaver http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433264 Sighorny Beaver Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:12:40 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433264 The whole process is BROKEN. Or, should I say it's FIXED? Let's face it, the whole damn mess that is called American politics needs to be completely dismantled and rebuilt. ALL of the Represtatives, Senators and Congressmen need to be fired and NEVER again allowed to partake in American politics, even as advisers. They could hold civil service jobs, but not in any political way, shape or form. Then the government could be rebuilt from the ground up while strictly adhereing to the Constitution. Until this happens, FORGET about fairness, justice, reason or pity. The whole process is BROKEN. Or, should I say it’s FIXED? Let’s face it, the whole damn mess that is called American politics needs to be completely dismantled and rebuilt. ALL of the Represtatives, Senators and Congressmen need to be fired and NEVER again allowed to partake in American politics, even as advisers. They could hold civil service jobs, but not in any political way, shape or form. Then the government could be rebuilt from the ground up while strictly adhereing to the Constitution. Until this happens, FORGET about fairness, justice, reason or pity.

]]> By: Democrats @ 2008 Presidential Election » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433248 Democrats @ 2008 Presidential Election » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:35:14 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433248 [...] Pensito Review placed an interesting blog post on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a brief overview [...] [...] Pensito Review placed an interesting blog post on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a brief overview [...]

]]> By: Media Districts Entertainment Blog » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433235 Media Districts Entertainment Blog » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:10:08 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433235 [...] Pensito Review placed an observative post today on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a quick excerpt [...] [...] Pensito Review placed an observative post today on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a quick excerpt [...]

]]> By: 2008 Presidential Election » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/comment-page-1/#comment-433233 2008 Presidential Election » Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are Irrelevant Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:08:19 +0000 http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/19/iowa-caucuses-like-the-electoral-college-need-to-end/#comment-433233 [...] Pensito Review placed an interesting blog post on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a brief overview [...] [...] Pensito Review placed an interesting blog post on Iowa Caucuses, Like the Electoral College, Are IrrelevantHere’s a brief overview [...]

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