The Electoral College was designed to prevent every presidential election from being decided by two states, Massachusetts and Virginia. Now it would be California and Texas.
It keeps the part of the country between the coasts relevant to our national politicians.
Without the electoral college, presidential candidates would have no reason to campaign, run adds or even give notice to the midwest – not enough people to compete with the coasts.
A candidate could sweep the entire midwest but if the other guy wins the coasts, the other guy wins.
Take, for example, when Trump defeated Hillary. She won the popular vote by 2 million. Her margin in California was four million. Take that away and even if you remove trumps biggest number state, Texas, she would not have the popular vote
Do you really want ONE state deciding our elections?
Absent the Electoral College, 5 metropolitan areas would choose the President, the rest of the country would have no say in who was President. People living in cities would dictate every aspect of country life.
Does democracy actually exist in the USA anymore? With all the hatred, racism, and bigotry, and denial of PROPER education and healthcare … I am not so sure. I hope I am wrong.
Early voting has started, and I have already voted. The election is over for me. I don’t want to hear anymore about it. Can we now return to funny comics?
Johnny has it absolutely right. In a Democracy, there are no such thing as states’ rights, and much of the US Constitution would not exist, as everything would be centrally ruled. A Democracy allows corruption to take over far faster than in a Republic, which is why the Electoral College was cemented into the Constitution to help protect both the Constitution and the Republic. The USA was never designed to be a Democracy.
Two forms of Tyranny: That of the few and that of the many. The Revolutionary War was fought against the former, while the Constitution hedged the latter. Basic American History/Government…
Essentially we vote for the electoral college and,since there are no laws in place about how they must vote,we can only pray they’ll vote as they’re “SUPPOSED” to…..and the only votes that COUNT are in the swing states…..
The Electoral College is a favorite whipping boy for people who do not understand the founding of this country. And those who do not understand that a large number of countries do not have popularly elected heads of state.
Pure democracy is mob rule. USA is a Republic. We elect people to represent us in the House of Representatives based on State population. The Electoral College is similar.
Okay, let’s try this little analogy. Assume we have a world government and everyone has a vote. China obviously would control everything with their population size. Just like CA and NY would control everything is there was no Electoral College. Would we all want to live in a country where we have no say and must obey all the laws the Chinese pass. I doubt Dems would want to live under the control of the Chinese population and those that would can easily fly there today.
Democracy is unlimited, unrestricted majority rule. In a democracy, the majority can override the rights of the minority by simple majority vote. Republicanism is legally limited government, with the rights of both the majority AND the minority protected by rule of law. The United States of America is a republic, not a democracy (Constitution of the United States, Articles IV, Section 4). Two-thirds of our population is concentrated in 17 states. If the President was elected by popular vote, urban states would overwhelm the more rural states, which have different concerns from the urban ones. While citizens of rural states might technically vote, they would effectively be disenfranchised. The electoral college ensures that the concerns of all states are taken into consideration.
Do you know what word appears nowhere in the constitution, bill of rights, the federalist papers and the declaration of independence?……The word democracy…..
Considering the population of five metro areas (all of which lean hard to the socialist ) make up the rest of the nation’s population, it protects the integrity of our votes. Remember no citizen if the U.S. has ever elected a president. We have 51 elections for the electors who will.
IThe Electoral College keeps this country from being EXLUSIVELY run by the large majorities in cities. The Electoral College insure that those states whose populations are not dominated by a very few large cities get a true voice and a real vote in determining who becomes the President. Nor is this country a democracy – it is a Republic.
It protects us from thinking of ourselves as one country and instead divides us up into 50 artificial tribes each easily conned into thinking the other guys are somehow different from them and out to get them. It protects politicians from addressing the needs of the majority and allows them an easier chance to pander to a few special interests. It is also sufficiently complicated to prevent most folks from having a friggin’ clue about how their being governed. They’re too busy arguing to notice the dumpster fire.
Unfortunately, democracy is a simple tyranny of the majority. The Electoral College prevents a populous state like Texas from lording it over the least popular state of Wyoming. Same reason the Upper House of Congress apportions two Senators from every state regardless of population whether they’re from California or Wyoming. But you knew that. In any case, if you bothered to read the Constitution you’d find in Article IV, Section 4: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.
No. No. No! It is the single most important thing the Founding Fathers did to ensure we’re NOT ruled by the “tyranny of the majority”. If the Electoral College” is dissolved, why not the Senate? There are 5 heavily populated states that would control every function of the government. Logically, why would the remaining states remain in our union if they have no protection from a majority, regardless of it being liberal OR conservative. Removing the Electoral College is just asking for the dissolution of our Union.
The the presidency of the United States of America is only election in the known universe conducted this ridiculous way, what happened to one man one vote?
Electoral College is an antiquated joke. Where is the logic in saying that a line in the dirt ( state border ) can affect whether your vote and mine have the same power? Everyone’s vote should be the same regardless of where you live.
He’s right, the tyrann Of the majority. Just ask East Oregonians (their elections are dictated by Portland-Eugene), East Washingtonians (their elections are dictated by Seattle-Tacoma), Illinois residents (their elections are dictated by Chicago), and upstate New Yorkers (their elections are dictated by the Big Apple). Without the Electoral College, California and New York would choose our Presidents.
Politics and the comic section don’t mix well. Pick a lane – editorial cartoon or comics page comic. Trying to be both will just irritate some people you want to keep reading you.
The electoral college is only part of the protection of the minority from the majority. The real basis is its basis in the number of senators and representatives which is the basis of the electoral college numbers. The senate is the key with two from every state no matter the size. It was the Connecticut Compromise. To pass the Constitution the small states wanted assurance that the large states would not dominate the country without the smaller states’ voices being heard, hence the Senate. And that carries over into the Electoral College, it gives the smaller states a bit extra voice, so that they have to be taken into account. The problem is politicians who try to fool us into thinking that compromise is unnecessary.
Boy oh boy does Mastroianni have it wrong. It protects us from mob tyranny by providing a voice for a broad spectrum of people. It protects us from demagoguery. It protects us from mob rule. It was designed into the constitution for a reason.
It’s actually the “democratic party”, that protects us from democracy. I would like to point out Hillary Clinton’s farce of a nomination, 2016. Then I would like to point out that Kamala Harris never received one vote, not one vote for nomination in 2024. That, my friends, is not democracy. And, if you want to compare any politician to Hitler, let me give you Newsom.
Calvin for President ! about 2 months ago
True
Maizing about 2 months ago
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for lunch.”
TexTech about 2 months ago
It can and has “protected” us from majority rule.
oldthang about 2 months ago
I like this—especially the “SKOOL” sign.
Courage the Cowardly Dog! about 2 months ago
Says the ant ruled by a queen!
pschearer Premium Member about 2 months ago
The Electoral College was designed to prevent every presidential election from being decided by two states, Massachusetts and Virginia. Now it would be California and Texas.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace about 2 months ago
Ochlocracy.
DanEP about 2 months ago
Good answer: protects us from mobocracy.
Gandalf about 2 months ago
From mob rule… People used to understand that… Not so much anymore….
mourdac Premium Member about 2 months ago
Didn’t do such a good job in 2016.
Jml58 about 2 months ago
How is the delegates to the eletoral college elected?
donlackie about 2 months ago
It keeps the part of the country between the coasts relevant to our national politicians.
Without the electoral college, presidential candidates would have no reason to campaign, run adds or even give notice to the midwest – not enough people to compete with the coasts.
A candidate could sweep the entire midwest but if the other guy wins the coasts, the other guy wins.
Take, for example, when Trump defeated Hillary. She won the popular vote by 2 million. Her margin in California was four million. Take that away and even if you remove trumps biggest number state, Texas, she would not have the popular vote
Do you really want ONE state deciding our elections?
morningglory73 Premium Member about 2 months ago
It is outdated with proof of that shown in 2016.
musick.mike about 2 months ago
I come here to be entertained NOT for politics, do it again and I’m gone!
The Orange Mailman about 2 months ago
The DNC seems to have a highly un-democratic nomination process.
Millard Brooking Premium Member about 2 months ago
Tyranny of the majority
wdtabordds about 2 months ago
Absent the Electoral College, 5 metropolitan areas would choose the President, the rest of the country would have no say in who was President. People living in cities would dictate every aspect of country life.
DawnQuinn1 about 2 months ago
Does democracy actually exist in the USA anymore? With all the hatred, racism, and bigotry, and denial of PROPER education and healthcare … I am not so sure. I hope I am wrong.
DavidBorck1 about 2 months ago
not true … research the history and logic
blakerl about 2 months ago
Early voting has started, and I have already voted. The election is over for me. I don’t want to hear anymore about it. Can we now return to funny comics?
rockyridge1977 about 2 months ago
Study the constitution………
dflak about 2 months ago
The Electoral College was founded as a compromise to the slave states. It still serves the same function.
dalemcginnis about 2 months ago
because we are not a democracy. we are a democratic republic. Two very different forms of government
More Coffee Please! Premium Member about 2 months ago
Nailed it!
Autological about 2 months ago
If you don’t understand why we need the Electoral College, then YOU are the reason.
asmbeers about 2 months ago
Johnny has it absolutely right. In a Democracy, there are no such thing as states’ rights, and much of the US Constitution would not exist, as everything would be centrally ruled. A Democracy allows corruption to take over far faster than in a Republic, which is why the Electoral College was cemented into the Constitution to help protect both the Constitution and the Republic. The USA was never designed to be a Democracy.
Count Olaf Premium Member about 2 months ago
That’s what commie Liberals teach kids today in Skool.
sandpiper about 2 months ago
A question without a precisely correct answer. Never gonna be solved.
paul GROSS Premium Member about 2 months ago
While you are at it, you might want to study the historys of Greece and Rome.
BilboDaddy about 2 months ago
Ain’t that the truth! And God help us, it might just do that again.
Watchdog about 2 months ago
1st Place dumbest political advertisement
Watchdog about 2 months ago
Dumbest political cartoon
Rise22 about 2 months ago
It is something that keeps us able to have our votes counted – not just be ruled by a few cities.
AZCoyote about 2 months ago
Hillary Clinton
Ionizer about 2 months ago
Best example of full democracy: A lynch mob.
waes-hael about 2 months ago
Two forms of Tyranny: That of the few and that of the many. The Revolutionary War was fought against the former, while the Constitution hedged the latter. Basic American History/Government…
ragsarooni about 2 months ago
Essentially we vote for the electoral college and,since there are no laws in place about how they must vote,we can only pray they’ll vote as they’re “SUPPOSED” to…..and the only votes that COUNT are in the swing states…..
da_villa about 2 months ago
It protects less populated states from suffering the wishes of more populated states, or in pop culture terms, it prevents the Hunger Game scenario!
Ishka Bibel about 2 months ago
The Electoral College is a favorite whipping boy for people who do not understand the founding of this country. And those who do not understand that a large number of countries do not have popularly elected heads of state.
HenryStryker about 2 months ago
Actually, we are a democratic republic: >
Spacetech about 2 months ago
Wake Up…Even Comics are being duped..
garyred about 2 months ago
Pure democracy is mob rule. USA is a Republic. We elect people to represent us in the House of Representatives based on State population. The Electoral College is similar.
mike75035 about 2 months ago
Nothing like a good REPUBLIC!
notmoving Premium Member about 2 months ago
Bam!
BB71 about 2 months ago
Without the Senate, with two senators per state, and the electoral college, the country would be run by the big cities. That is a terrible idea.
wildlandwaters about 2 months ago
The history of the electoral college is actually quite disturbing…
Skippy the Magnificent about 2 months ago
The US is NOT A DEMOCRACY
DefundFakeMedia about 2 months ago
Far left BS. It protects the nation from the tyranny of being ruled by big Democrat cesspool cities.
foxmike6513 Premium Member about 2 months ago
Yep——the “democracy” of NY, CA, MA, OR and WA electing our President.
dontoedon57 about 2 months ago
I don’t want California and New York making all the choices for me. We wouldn’t be a republic without it.
Mort about 2 months ago
That should say democrat’s.
tracybsmith about 2 months ago
Absolutely wrong answer.
klapre about 2 months ago
Okay, let’s try this little analogy. Assume we have a world government and everyone has a vote. China obviously would control everything with their population size. Just like CA and NY would control everything is there was no Electoral College. Would we all want to live in a country where we have no say and must obey all the laws the Chinese pass. I doubt Dems would want to live under the control of the Chinese population and those that would can easily fly there today.
LongTom Premium Member about 2 months ago
Democracy is unlimited, unrestricted majority rule. In a democracy, the majority can override the rights of the minority by simple majority vote. Republicanism is legally limited government, with the rights of both the majority AND the minority protected by rule of law. The United States of America is a republic, not a democracy (Constitution of the United States, Articles IV, Section 4). Two-thirds of our population is concentrated in 17 states. If the President was elected by popular vote, urban states would overwhelm the more rural states, which have different concerns from the urban ones. While citizens of rural states might technically vote, they would effectively be disenfranchised. The electoral college ensures that the concerns of all states are taken into consideration.
zeexenon about 2 months ago
Well said, starting with our age old out of date tradition of redistricting and gerrymandering.
steveconkey2003 about 2 months ago
Do you know what word appears nowhere in the constitution, bill of rights, the federalist papers and the declaration of independence?……The word democracy…..
MissionLDB about 2 months ago
Considering the population of five metro areas (all of which lean hard to the socialist ) make up the rest of the nation’s population, it protects the integrity of our votes. Remember no citizen if the U.S. has ever elected a president. We have 51 elections for the electors who will.
mindjob about 2 months ago
No one needs the tyranny of the majority
dogwoodgirlz about 2 months ago
IThe Electoral College keeps this country from being EXLUSIVELY run by the large majorities in cities. The Electoral College insure that those states whose populations are not dominated by a very few large cities get a true voice and a real vote in determining who becomes the President. Nor is this country a democracy – it is a Republic.
Rista about 2 months ago
It protects us from thinking of ourselves as one country and instead divides us up into 50 artificial tribes each easily conned into thinking the other guys are somehow different from them and out to get them. It protects politicians from addressing the needs of the majority and allows them an easier chance to pander to a few special interests. It is also sufficiently complicated to prevent most folks from having a friggin’ clue about how their being governed. They’re too busy arguing to notice the dumpster fire.
Strawberry King about 2 months ago
Makes sense to me
jsimpso1 about 2 months ago
Unfortunately, democracy is a simple tyranny of the majority. The Electoral College prevents a populous state like Texas from lording it over the least popular state of Wyoming. Same reason the Upper House of Congress apportions two Senators from every state regardless of population whether they’re from California or Wyoming. But you knew that. In any case, if you bothered to read the Constitution you’d find in Article IV, Section 4: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.
That means not a democracy as you know it.
Stick to driving wheels over cliffs.
ROY PICKETT about 2 months ago
Democracy has been described as 2 wolves and a sheep deciding on what is for dinner…
Jim Duff Premium Member about 2 months ago
One party rule. That is a good thing to be protected from.
William Stoneham Premium Member about 2 months ago
No. No. No! It is the single most important thing the Founding Fathers did to ensure we’re NOT ruled by the “tyranny of the majority”. If the Electoral College” is dissolved, why not the Senate? There are 5 heavily populated states that would control every function of the government. Logically, why would the remaining states remain in our union if they have no protection from a majority, regardless of it being liberal OR conservative. Removing the Electoral College is just asking for the dissolution of our Union.
dpatrickryan Premium Member about 2 months ago
It replaces the tyranny of the majority with the tyranny of the minority.
EXCALABUR about 2 months ago
Why can’t comics just be comics anymore?
nyg16 about 2 months ago
The the presidency of the United States of America is only election in the known universe conducted this ridiculous way, what happened to one man one vote?
petecocker about 2 months ago
Electoral College is an antiquated joke. Where is the logic in saying that a line in the dirt ( state border ) can affect whether your vote and mine have the same power? Everyone’s vote should be the same regardless of where you live.
falcon_370f about 2 months ago
He’s right, the tyrann Of the majority. Just ask East Oregonians (their elections are dictated by Portland-Eugene), East Washingtonians (their elections are dictated by Seattle-Tacoma), Illinois residents (their elections are dictated by Chicago), and upstate New Yorkers (their elections are dictated by the Big Apple). Without the Electoral College, California and New York would choose our Presidents.
bladesong about 2 months ago
As it should since we were designed to be a “republic.”
rrounds Premium Member about 2 months ago
Politics and the comic section don’t mix well. Pick a lane – editorial cartoon or comics page comic. Trying to be both will just irritate some people you want to keep reading you.
Henry R Premium Member about 2 months ago
A Republic, if you can keep it. Today’s column is a big thumbs down for me.
j.l.farmer about 2 months ago
The English teacher should be fired or whoever was in charge of putting the SKOOL sign up on the school.
johngregor Premium Member about 2 months ago
this is a wicked and evil communist lie.
theeuroguy about 2 months ago
Actually, the most populous state at the time was Virginia, which I believe, was a southern state.
olebear53 about 2 months ago
We do not have a democracy, we have a Republic thus the need for the Electoral College/
fuzz3942 about 2 months ago
It protects us from the looney states of California and New York running the country.
toshephe about 2 months ago
The electoral college is only part of the protection of the minority from the majority. The real basis is its basis in the number of senators and representatives which is the basis of the electoral college numbers. The senate is the key with two from every state no matter the size. It was the Connecticut Compromise. To pass the Constitution the small states wanted assurance that the large states would not dominate the country without the smaller states’ voices being heard, hence the Senate. And that carries over into the Electoral College, it gives the smaller states a bit extra voice, so that they have to be taken into account. The problem is politicians who try to fool us into thinking that compromise is unnecessary.
oscar.abraham2 about 2 months ago
Exactly. The electoral college was designed to protect the smaller states against the tyranny of states with large populations.
eddi-TBH about 2 months ago
The Founding Fathers intended it to keep the wrong sort out of the Presidency. They never expected the wrong sort to control the College.
ekke about 2 months ago
Boy oh boy does Mastroianni have it wrong. It protects us from mob tyranny by providing a voice for a broad spectrum of people. It protects us from demagoguery. It protects us from mob rule. It was designed into the constitution for a reason.
klingon131 about 2 months ago
Sadly, this is so true.
Conservative Man about 2 months ago
Do you really want California and New York to elect the president
byubob80 about 2 months ago
That is EXACTLY right!!! We are NOT a democracy and never have been. Majority rule is flat out dangerous…..
serial232 about 2 months ago
It’s actually the “democratic party”, that protects us from democracy. I would like to point out Hillary Clinton’s farce of a nomination, 2016. Then I would like to point out that Kamala Harris never received one vote, not one vote for nomination in 2024. That, my friends, is not democracy. And, if you want to compare any politician to Hitler, let me give you Newsom.
DarkHorseSki about 2 months ago
It protects the nation from an ignorant, concentrated, majority getting control over the entire nation.
tcviii Premium Member 22 days ago
It protects us from forgetting that we are a union of states. Not just a whole bunch of people.