The Electoral College: What's your opinion?

[PhoenixCadet]

Cadets (and anyone else),

I'm curious as to what your opinions are regarding how our presidents are elected. I'm specifically referring to the electoral college, and how we have an indirect election process.

I personally think the entire idea of the electoral college is a bad idea. I'm much, much more favorable of electing the POTUS via popular vote, because, well, that's fair. It shouldn't be left up to electors who "pledge" to vote for a certain person; especially considering they're not obligated to vote for a specific person, and can really go against the wishes of those who've elected them in.

For those who are unfamiliar on the Electoral College, you can read up on it here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Electoral_College).

Here's their official website (http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/).

-PC

[MP_Girl]

Quite Frankly I do not like the way the electoral college gets to choose who was president. This was something I did not know of, or was not aware of until I read the website you had posted. I always thought voters voted because they were choosing the POTUS, but in all reality, the electoral college chooses. To me that is unfair. I think that they should get rid of the electoral college and just allow the people to choose.

McCain/Palin for 2008

[Billyd]

For a lively discussion on the Electoral College, please read this thread:
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/board/showthread.php?t=402.

One thing that I pointed out there was that if the POTUS was elected via popular vote, they would really only need to campaign in NYC and LA as there are enough people in those two cities to effect the outcome. The Electoral College ensures the candidates spend time in what some have called "fly-over" country.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

For a lively discussion on the Electoral College, please read this thread:
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/board/showthread.php?t=402.

One thing that I pointed out there was that if the POTUS was elected via popular vote, they would really only need to campaign in NYC and LA as there are enough people in those two cities to effect the outcome. The Electoral College ensures the candidates spend time in what some have called "fly-over" country.
Wow that is very interesting. I honestly don't think that the electoral college is a good idea. Voters' votes should individually affect the tally.

[TruBlu]

I like the idea of the electoral college, it creates more of a balance between the states. As BillyD stated, candidates could campaign in places like New York, California, Texas, etc., where there are massive populations, and no where else. Of course, BOTH candidates would be doing that so they would indeed have to go to other places, but hypothetically, someone could win by controlling very small geographic portions of the US, instead of entire states. Is it entirely fair to the voters, maybe not, but neither would a lack of the college be either in my opinion.