Letters to the Editor

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Created to protect the slave states, it is championed now by conservatives who fear the power of America's true majority. It's time to ditch the antiquated way we choose presidents.
  • Hey, do the math!

    To get rid of the present structure of the electoral college would require a constitutional amendment. An amendment requires ratification of 3/4ths of the states, 38 states.

    There are 12 states that enjoy substantially disproportional representation in the electoral college since each gets two votes for their senators plus one (7) or two (5) more based on population, so therein lies a formidable constituency for retaining the status quo. (D.C. gets three votes but doesn't vote on amendments.) The 12 states have 3.78% of the population in 2000, yet had 7.62% of the electoral votes, 41 total electoral college votes. California has only 55 votes with 12% of the U.S. population.

    Only two low population states, Vermont and Rhode Island, harbor significant progressive sentiments. Given the primacy of the principle that motivates the majority ("I got mine!") why would anyone dream that any would surrender that advantage?

    Assuming none would be likely to ratify the amendment, it would have to garner approval from every remaining state in order to be ratified.

    Fat chance!