The idea that, without the Electoral College, smaller states would be ignored as candidates focused on a few large states, is without rational merit.
Candidates must sell themselves. Walmart, Starbucks and McDonalds know how to sell, and they don’t just sell in urban coastal areas. They sell everywhere. Every small town has at least one Walmart, Starbucks, and McDonalds (usually many more). Likewise, politicians would also find ways to sell everywhere, but only if every vote counts, and EVERY VOTE COUNTS EQUALLY.
In the current reality, large states such as California and New York are ignored in general elections. But so are smaller states such as Montana, Wyoming, Mississippi and Alabama, because they are not “swing” states. All but a very few swing states are left out in the current system.
Right now most people in the entire country — large states and small, blue states or red — are marginalized because candidates only compete for and campaign in a few swing states. Whether you are in small rural states or large urban states, if your state is not in play, you don’t count.
Further, there are rural areas in bright blue California and New York and there are urban areas in rosy red Texas, Alabama and Mississippi. There are MORE REPUBLICANS IN CALIFORNIA than the total number of voters in all of a swing state like Colorado or Arizona, but those two states will get a lot more attention because their electoral votes are up for grab and those of Californians or New Yorkers are not.
There are liberals who live out in the country or on farms; there are conservatives who live in big cities.
The only way to include everyone is to INCLUDE EVERYONE.
The idea that, without the Electoral College, smaller states would be ignored as candidates focused on a few large states, is without rational merit.
Candidates must sell themselves. Walmart, Starbucks and McDonalds know how to sell, and they don’t just sell in urban coastal areas. They sell everywhere. Every small town has at least one Walmart, Starbucks, and McDonalds (usually many more). Likewise, politicians would also find ways to sell everywhere, but only if every vote counts, and EVERY VOTE COUNTS EQUALLY.
In the current reality, large states such as California and New York are ignored in general elections. But so are smaller states such as Montana, Wyoming, Mississippi and Alabama, because they are not “swing” states. All but a very few swing states are left out in the current system.
Right now most people in the entire country — large states and small, blue states or red — are marginalized because candidates only compete for and campaign in a few swing states. Whether you are in small rural states or large urban states, if your state is not in play, you don’t count.
Further, there are rural areas in bright blue California and New York and there are urban areas in rosy red Texas, Alabama and Mississippi. There are MORE REPUBLICANS IN CALIFORNIA than the total number of voters in all of a swing state like Colorado or Arizona, but those two states will get a lot more attention because their electoral votes are up for grab and those of Californians or New Yorkers are not.
There are liberals who live out in the country or on farms; there are conservatives who live in big cities.
The only way to include everyone is to INCLUDE EVERYONE.