[Winona Online Democracy] Hello Winona Online Democracy, Here is a converation I had yesterday on another listserve. Since some of us have started to discuss the Electoral College, I thought I would pass it on to this list. Let me know what you think. Dwayne P.S. The Star Tribune stated in today's edition that nation wide, the voter turnout for this election was not quite 51%. =========================== >From Dwayne Voegeli to Jason November 9, 2000 =========================== Hello Jason, You asked, "Why get rid of the electoral college?" Do you know why the Electoral College exists? Some will say it was a comprimise in the small state vs. big state debates. The biggest reason it was created was to settle another debate that raged between people who wanted the President to be elected by direct election and by those who believed that the common people should not be trusted with the election of such a high office. It was based on class and elitist power issues. Common Americans could not even vote for their National Senators until the early years of the 20th century. (A reform that came about from progressive 3rd parties...Bob LaFollette, Progressive Party, Populists, etc...) The Constitution was a wonderful and radical document for it's time. At the same time, it was far from perfect. It also contained wording that allowed these laws and traditions to exist: 1. 1/3 of the humans living in the South were treated as property, like cattle. 2. Those slaves were counted as 3/5 human. 3. Only European-American males who owned property could vote And a few other real gems. The Consitution was written by humans who are fallible. As times and morals evolve, so should the laws that govern humans. Thomas Jefferson has a wonderful quote about how it's ridiculous to expect a full grown man to wear the same coat he once wore as a small boy. (I'll include the full qoute at the bottom of this message.) It's time that our Consitution grew up and matured some more. It's time to put on a new coat. One of my biggest frustations is hearing my close friends (many of whom are Democrats) say that a person needs to compromise with the system to get anything done. I realize compromise is needed. The question is, "what kind of system do you compromise with?". If I was living in 1830, should I compromise with the slave system? Hopefully, I would reply, "no" and try to change the system. Compromise is needed but make sure it's with a fair and just system. We must fix our broken democracy by changing many of the laws that govern elections and whose ideas and voices are heard and NOT HEARD. I think more Americans should find out about what the Electoral College is and more importantly, why it was created in the first place. And, like I said in a previous e-mail to this listserve, I hope they will then realize this unjust law is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to corrupt and unfair laws and traiditions that are strangling our democracy. Do you not want to change the Electoral College? Dwayne Voegeli Winona, MN ========================== Full Jefferson Quote: "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." -- Thomas Jefferson Written on the Jefferson Monument, Washington D.C. ============================== Jason's Previous First Message >Why get rid of the electoral college? Most people do not even know why we >have it. This is a product of our democracy....do we really need to change >our constitution? >---------- ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
