The framers of our Constitution did not trust direct democracy. The reason we have an electoral college is to avoid factions and majority rule. What would happen if the popular vote was the system in place for our presidential election? Tyranny. Tyranny of the majority is what would happen. (Have you ever seen the movie, V for Vendetta?) A tyrannous government would violate the inalienable rights of the minority in order to further the interests of the majority. An electoral college keeps this from happening. We have never been a pure democracy, nor will we ever because the USA is a Democratic-Republic. ***EDIT UPDATE ADDED 11/14/2016***
I realize now I must qualify my statements about factions and tyranny of the majority to show I'm not just talking out of my ass and bullshitting my readers...please look up Federalist No. 10 written by James Madison. When you're a Poli-Sci major it is easy to forget others did not study constitutional law as in depth as I have. My logic is always based on historical fact and writing, not just grabbed out of the clear blue sky on a whim and fancy.
Our election in 2000 proves that it is entirely possible for the winning candidate to lose the popular vote yet still win the seat in the Oval Office. The way states apportion electors is how a candidate can lose the popular vote and win the election. How does this work? Our Electorate is a group of people loyal to their party. It is very rare for an electorate to be faithless (voting for the other ticket) and it will be largely unlikely the electoral college will ever be removed. We have 48 states that award "winner take all" in the electoral college. Side note, the states can apportion their electors how they see fit. It is not a federal law or mandate. Anywho, the point for the electoral college, in the end, is to preserve the sense of the people as a whole and not allow one group or faction to overrun the needs of the remaining constituents. Here's an official link for those of you who wish to understand the electoral college further: What is the Electoral College
I don't even know where to begin on the topic of our election. While I wholeheartedly believe we should always take emotion and feelings out of any situation that calls for logic and common sense, I am saddened to witness the attitudes and divisiveness of the folks who abhor the winning candidate. How they apply his characteristics to the whole of the population that voted for him is reprehensible. Instead of acting as grown men and women and conceding to the political system in place (Republican voters did this for Obama twice mind you and God forbid we spoke against him - we were racist if we did) since the beginning of our nation, they have taken to the streets to protest a man that has been elected our president inciting violence and hatred. These protesters are asking for bodies to prove their point. These tactics are synonymous to the harsh words used by the man you hate so vehemently. Those of you lumping all Trump voters as racist, sexist, misogynistic bigots, are in whole, total hypocrites and are creating more divisiveness. Can you not see this? I have several friends that have been doing exactly this - lumping trump voters together as one collective instead of trying to understand why. Instead we have a cupcake nation (borrowed phrase) of dissenters trying to usurp a representative democratic republic they do not understand.
As evident to results of the election, Trump voters were mainly silent - the closet voters. We were not able to openly discuss our thoughts and why we chose Trump because we were not allowed to go against whom they felt was a better candidate, I am one of the aforementioned closet voters (not a surprise to many) and I will explain why. I could not speak freely about my beliefs with logic and common sense because I was criticized immediately for supporting the idea of Trump as president. Everyone felt because I am a white, educated female of Hispanic and Asian decent I'm supposed to run with the liberal crowd. I have been the recipient of hate language and bullying due to the fact I resemble my Latin and Asian roots with dark curly hair, slanted eyes, and high cheekbones. I have to tell you all, I have been the recipient of hate language and bullying due to the color of my skin. Talk about growing up confused! I could not understand why people hated me so much solely based on how I looked. I still feel the silent majority in the Trump win speaks volumes though. Here's why; We, the silent Trump voters, saw an opportunity to no longer be marginalized by the establishment. We used our voting right to choose a person we felt will address our concerns most. We overlooked words and personality to opt for more employment opportunities, lower taxes, and a better health care system. Policies that mattered to us as a whole. We wanted a hard working champion that didn't have any special interests or favors to pay. We wanted an unencumbered President representing the needs we have expressed over and over but largely went unanswered for the past 8 years.
Yes, I took in to consideration the implications of choosing a candidate that seemed to be outwardly racist (though I never saw any evidence of such) and how it may effect the rest of the true racists and bigots out there - as in them feeling like they can now act out with presidential approval. Assholes will always be assholes folks. We've had hate/race crimes happening for a very long time y'all. I don't believe Trump will make it any worse than it already is (based on feelings instead of facts for this point) and I firmly believe the hate has only grown exponentially under the Obama administration. I chose to overlook the media's rabid purported claims of sexual aggression and overtures. Listen, I've been the object of unwanted attention from men since I grew tits at the age of 12. I am not innocent to any sexual advance (verbal or physical) that I was not able to fend off. I hold on the thought that bragging does not equate doing. And if he did actually grab any woman by the P, I hope she kneed him in the nuts and gave him a fat lip. It's what I've done in the same situation. YES, women get attacked in this manner all the time and no, we don't always tattle on our assaulter because, why? For the sake of ousting your attacker that will not be punished for being a jerk? Unless of course you were paid by the Democratic National Committee to turn the table on a candidate that you want to sink for your own selfish needs. Like winning a presidency?
So, to my friends that put all Trump supporters (which includes me) in one lump group of racist, sexist, misogynistic bigots - what are you bringing to the table? I guess I am a deplorable human being.
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