Re: Electoral College

[Bob Hoffmann <escape@alt-escape.com>]

At 03:02 PM 12/18/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>letter to the
>editor of Sunday's Lewiston Morning Tribune:
>
>In the South and inland West, where most of the resources
>of the whole country's needs are produced, [they] want to keep our republic,
>retain our freedoms and reduce the control of the federal government in out
>lives.

First of all, the South and inland West have never been called "The 
Nation's Breadbasket."  The Midwest feeds this country.  Or is food not a 
resource?

Also, the supposed differences quoted are most apparent when you look at 
the Electoral vote count.  View the popular vote count, and many of these 
differences disappear.  Ohio and Illinois, some of those "big population 
centers," are swing states.  Some rural states are also swing states.  The 
above is just one more illustration that the Electoral College obscures the 
will of the people, and does not protect it.

>"If a direct voting system was ever established, candidates would spend their
>time campaigning in these population centers and the one who promised to
>spend the most out of the public purse on them would probably win.

The Rural Vote is specifically targeted by presidential candidates.  Where 
there are votes to be grabbed, politicians are there.

>"Of course the whole idea is moot.  It would take a constitutional amendment
>to change the system and I can assure everybody the rural states that
>outnumber the urban ones significantly are never going to give up any of
>their power and it would take a two-thirds majority of the states to change.
>Let us put this stupid idea to rest once and for all."

I recall hearing of a poll that showed that 70% of the country wants voting 
reform, including an elimination of the Electoral College.  "Rural" states 
with small populations are rarely classified as Battleground States, and 
they have nothing to gain from the Electoral College.  Conventional wisdom 
(ever since I have studied history) is that large states would never vote 
to eliminate the Electoral College, as they get all of the campaign 
promises and attention.  The lesson of Florida may change the mind of many 
large states.

The role of the presidency in protecting states rights rests solely on one 
voting event--the presidential election.  The equal protection small 
(rural) states enjoy in the Senate, where votes are constantly being cast, 
would not change by eliminating that ridiculous,  anachronistic custom we 
call the Electoral College.

Long Live States Rights!
I come not to praise the Electoral College, but to bury it!


Bob Hoffmann
846 Mabelle St.
Moscow, ID  83843

Tel: 208 883-0642
Fax: 877 495-2279