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Originally Posted by hevusa  Jaxian
I disagree with your assessment of the electoral college. I don't believe it was started because they thought the average man was so uninformed or to protect smaller states (the two most common misconceptions), but rather came about because of slavery. http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/election/electionfink.htm |
Your belief is incorrect, and so is Professor Paul Finkleman.
In truth, the electoral college was supported for a variety of reasons, including the one that Finkleman mentioned. However, the most important of those reasons was indeed that the people will not make a good choice about who the president is.
Finkleman's quotes by Madison, which I consider the heart of his argument, were taken from Madisons notes from the Constitutional Convention's debates about the proper method of selecting the executive. Those notes can be found here:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...ector1787.html
These notes begin after it has already been suggested that the legislature select the president. In them, you will find evidence that the legislature was chosen, in part, because they will have the most knowledge about who would make a good president.
But the important thing to understand is that these debates occurred before the debaters reached a conclusion. Not all of the arguments had been made, and not all of the reasoning had been presented. The best resource for understanding the real reason each piece of the Consitution exists is the Federalist Papers.
The relevant Federalist Paper is #68. The text of this Paper can be found here:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed68.htm
The following quote is the relevant part:
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Originally Posted by Federalist Papers 68 It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations. |
This quote should make the intentions of the founders very clear.
It is also important to understand that even if the founders hand not implemented the college for this reason, my justification for reforming the college instead of getting rid of it would still stand.
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That aside I think the main reason we should implement IRV is to eliminate the "spoiler" vote. People could vote their hearts at the same time they prevent candidates they absolutely don't want to see in office. It is a more fair system for everyone involved, gives 3rd parties a chance, and saves our taxpayers money. A win, win for everyone involved.
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Well, I do think IRV is a good idea, but IRV doesn't solve the problem that the wrong sort of people are raising to popularity. It is the wealthy, charismatic, trash-talkers who gain popularity, not the intelligence people who have the right stance on the issues. IRV might help us choose the best out of five bad candidates, but they're still bad candidates.
I envision IRV being used to choose electoral college members, then electoral college members using IRV to vote on the president. IRV is still better than what we have today, so long as it does not get rid of the electoral college.