Elections Should the US election be decided by electoral votes or popular votes?

[BIKES!]

I don't think the IQ test or civics test being mandatory for voting rights is the slam dunk for conservatives that they think it is.

Sure, it would decimate the voting percentage in the inner cities, but it would also eliminate a large portion of the rural/hayseed demographic as well. The people who would benefit most from this would probably be the lanyard liberals and those in academia, who would almost certainly pass those tests with ease.

If y'all really want those sort of people deciding who runs the country then I suppose the test is great, but I don't want that and I'm sure conservatives don't either.

You are overestimating how much those in academia know about anything real world. I know plenty of Ivy League MBA liberal women that don’t know much about politics, government or real life other than what the media tells them.

 

[Kaybee]

You are overestimating how much those in academia know about anything real world. I know plenty of Ivy League MBA liberal women that don’t know much about politics, government or real life other than what the media tells them.

They are out of touch, I agree.

But what is being proposed in this thread is a test for IQ and general mechanisms of how the government works, which they are generally well aware of. I don't see any threshold being set up that doesn't trip up that demographic that wouldn't also wreak havoc on average middle class suburban voters as well.

 

[ultramanhyata]

Currently you have to pass a firearms safety test.

Not in any state I have ever lived in. It is certainly not a federal requirement.

 

[Jack V Savage]

You are overestimating how much those in academia know about anything real world. I know plenty of Ivy League MBA liberal women that don’t know much about politics, government or real life other than what the media tells them.

This discussion reminds me of a line from Kurt Vonnegut:

“The big trouble with dumb bastards is that they are too dumb to believe there is such a thing as being smart.”

You *really* wouldn't like the results of an actual intellectual bar to voting, and it's actually a bad idea anyway. Voting is about having say in your own governance. It doesn't make any sense that only people over some arbitrary intellectual line should be free. If you believe in that, you don't believe that people have a right to be free.

 

[Paradigm]

I think a more pertinent question is why on earth do North Dakota and Idaho have the same number of senators as New York and California???

Because the larger states already have more reps in the House?

States rights?

 

[Texan6533]

Of course the electoral college. That seems to be the most fair way to make sure that a few areas around the US aren’t making decisions for everyone.

 

[Prutfis]

Sadly, you may be right. I would have never considered saying that in the past. But, we have allowed the Leftists to take over Education, MSM, Entertainment, Big Tech, the Bureaucracies, and other institutions. They incrementally pushed changes an it's too late. If you even consider speaking out against men competing in women's sports, or the thought of merit over race, you will be received with a non stop screech from these institutions as if such thought is evil and not rational. Once they seize the vote with HR1, it's over and the clock is ticking towards violence and Balkanization. The Orwellian direction of the Left will not be tolerated by the 50% of Americans that are rational.

What a steaming pile of partisan shit.

 

[Day Drinking]

^^^ Please give a valid explanation for this.


On an airplane, should everyone's input be considered when choosing the altitude or should it be left to the pilot and copilot?

There is voting on an airplane? I must have missed that every time I flew somewhere.

 

[Bald1]

Rock, paper, scissors imo. Best 3 out of 5.

 

[avenue94]

No, you are the one suggesting that. I am suggesting a modern way of testing voters to ensure that they are well informed on the issues.


It would be created the same way that all tests are created. Do you really think I'm suggesting having someone like Mitch McConnell or Nancy Pelosi create it? Please don't be so stupid.



PS, The lack of education opportunities in the past are gone. Hence in modern times, it's an entirely different argument.

OK, who creates the test then? It can't be federal since voting is administered by states. What's to stop states form abusing it reduce their voting population or increase it?

Just FYI, I edited the post to make it more clear. I wanted an explanation on his comment that all votes should be equal.

Now for the analogy. It's simple, the pilot is the engaged informed voter. The passengers are your typical uninformed voter. Are both their opinions on how to fly the plane of equal weight? Of course not.

Why in the world would we run a country the same way? Is it really wise to get an opinion on foreign policy from someone who can't find China on a map?

Do you have any real world examples of limited electorates electing better leaders? Because most non democratic leaders aren't known for competence.

 

[avenue94]

That would be an improvement. Still, I don’t see much downside to a popular vote, nor any reason to hedge just to try and protect smaller states.

Opponents consistently fail to mention that those smaller states are already way over represented. WY has the same number of Senators as CA, and each of its house reps represents half the number of people on average of each house rep in CA. Then there’s the scotus, which must be approved by the Senate. People act like the potus is a supreme leader or something.

There is a reason people never talk about how if you want to win a senate seat, people move to Wyoming (cough cough Cheneys), as opposed to larger states.

 

[Magooglie]

Popular vote so every American citizen has a say.

 

[Rocco Siffredi]

Nobody would use the electoral college if they were designing an electoral system from the ground up. There’s just no good reason for somebody to be president without popular support.

The electoral college is protection from the mob/majority.

If only popular votes then it is mob rule. We are 50 states.....you should have to do well in many states and not just 3 cities to win.

 

[SiKnSiN]

Popular vote. Let the people actually decide. The states maintain their power/influence in the Senate.

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Rock, paper, scissors imo. Best 3 out of 5.

Would be an improvement over the electoral college.

 

[K1levelgrappler]

The electoral college is protection from the mob/majority.

If only popular votes then it is mob rule. We are 50 states.....you should have to do well in many states and not just 3 cities to win.

No that’s really really stupid.

A constitution and representative government are what protects you from mob rule. Having the presidency decided by popular vote isn’t mob rule anymore than electing mayor that way. A candidate for a singularly powerful executive position that represents the entire population should have to win over more people than their opposition.

 

[Proud American]

This isn’t a debate.

this is a try it and you must militarily impose it decision. Destroy a nation for a pure political grab. I hope they do try. Enough is enough. You can have all the trannys and all the filth and all the subversion of your rights. The rest of America will be free.

 

[Voodoo_Child906]

Honestly, a pure democracy is a ridiculously bad idea.

Frankly, we should have a test before you're allowed to vote.

A popular vote is not a pure democracy, not sure why you think it is.

 

[Teppodama]

Popular State level vote for two Electors, two electors per State. If all States are equal in this Republic then they should be equally represented by the same number of electors. In the case of two electors from the same State being divided in their vote, then a popular vote from the citizens of the State will work as a tie breaker for which candidate both Electoral votes will go to. Electors for each state shall be voted on every four years.

 

[Jack V Savage]

A popular vote is not a pure democracy, not sure why you think it is.

These guys literally don't understand their own arguments. It's just a collection of words that they're throwing out in place of thought.