It’s
not surprise that the Electoral College has been under scrutiny, post election.
Retiring Democratic California Senator Barbara Boxer filed legislation to
abolish the Electoral College that propelled Donald Trump into the Presidency.
Most
are calling into question the purpose of the Electoral College – finally
understanding what it is - because of the controversy that Hillary Clinton won
the popular vote. I’m sure most Americans that were not knowledgeable about
politics assumed that when you vote for a candidate, it’s tallied at that and
left at that. “When all the ballots are counted, Hillary Clinton will have won
the popular vote by a margin that could exceed two million votes, and is on track
to have received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history
except Barack Obama….this is the only office in the land where you can get more
votes and still lose the Presidency. ”[1]
Rightfully
acknowledged by Barbra Boxer, the abolishment of the Electoral College is the
correct thing to do. In an attempt to give the rural countries a larger role in
the primaries, they have also neglected the votes of larger states. Just
because California, New York and Texas have large populations doesn’t mean they
should be tallied in Electoral numbers. Every eligible voter should be counted
and not be considered part of a blue or red state.
“One
person, one vote” is exactly what we preach but don’t enact. I’m not going to
blame the Conservative Republicans for the idea of the Electoral College –
although I’m entitled too – because we should be focused on how to get rid of
this map that is supposed to help accurately represent the other states, when
all it does is wrongfully depict the ideals of Americans.
We
on the West Coast have all been frustrated over the fact that Trump became our
President. But the part that bothers me the most, as I’m sure it bothers others
too, is that Clinton technically won. The democrats don’t need to “rethink” how
to speak to the American people again, they have been doing it since 1992 –
except one of George Bush’s terms. With Bill Clinton in the house, then Al Gore
(who should have been in the house and won the popular vote in Americans as
well, via Bush v. Gore) Barrack Obama
and lastly Hillary Clinton, were all Democrats who won the Presidency. More
American’s had voted for them, than the opposing party – now tell me why you
would need to add a system that also “counts” the votes of rural America.
To
make this clear, I would have no hesitation voting for a Republican President.
However, when you have these candidates representing Congress – who are clearly
corrupt and traditional in their approaches toward abortion, filibusters, gay
marriage, climate change, jobs that aren’t
involved with natural gases, and so on – they are not appealing to the new
generation.
Educating
Americans is our only hope to avoiding these issues. We need to start making
climate change a priority, implementing the ideals of today’s norms while also,
and most importantly, abolishing the damn electoral College.
And
if we don’t get rid of this system by the next Presidency, then my Australian
dual citizen title will come in handy.
[1] http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/close-no-cigar-what-do-losing-presidential-candidates-do-next-n673901