The Senate is what makes the small states important, not the EC.
There are three branches of government, and the topic being EC, were are talking about the executive branch. You are correct that the Senate provides small states a louder voice in congress, but that has nothing to do with the executive branch.
I would venture to say that the EC gives states very little influence in selecting a president. Their real influence in the national gov't comes from the Senate. Therefore, if your reason for keeping the EC is because of the influence it affords the states, I think its a weak one.
I still don't think you understand why the EC helps small states and/or less populated areas to actually be represented in a presidential election. Without it, all of the focus would be on highly populated regions. Candidates would focus their time where they get the most bang for the buck, so to speak. The reason smaller states actually get attention using the EC is the 'winner-take-all' aspect of nearly all states (except Vermont, I think). In other words, win by even just a little, and you get the whole enchilada. Every state becomes very important to win, even the little guys.
Do you understand this idea, or do you just disagree with it?
I understand the concept but I don't agree that candidates would ignore the small states and focuse exclusively on the larger ones. A vote is a vote and every vote counts......we were reminded of that in 2000. Plus there are senatorial and congressional races that are intertwined with the presidential election, requiring the presidential candidate to make appearances for those local candidates. And if those weren't reason enough for the candidates to visit small states; demands within the party structure would require it. Local big man on campus who raised $500k for the GOP would demand that the presidential candidate make a pit stop in his burg.
I think the negatives of the EC far outweigh the benefits. As I said before, in 2000, thanks to the EC, the will of the people was subverted. That was not what the founding fathers intended. To me, that's reason enough to drop kick the EC permanently.
ted |
