In the hope of heading off yet another emotional diatribe by one or more of our strident liberals, those classified for reasons beyond me as “celebrities,” a few words about the Electoral College are in order. Years ago, when a high school education actually meant something, we learned that the Founding Fathers understood the distinction between the will of the people and mob rule. They knew that the will of the majority should not always be controlling.
At the time the Constitution was being debated, less populated colonies were concerned that their interests would be overwhelmed by those more populated. At stake was state sovereignty. It was understood that both the people and the states, as separate entities, should have rights, because each state offers something of special value to the Union such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing or strategic location against potential invaders. Therefore, they made sure that the choice of a president would rest upon the will of the people of each state, not that of the people at large. It must be that way, otherwise a few highly populated states could force a presidential candidate on the many smaller states.
Since to eliminate the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment with the agreement of a substantial majority of the states, it will never happen. So with any luck at all, we will hear no more agonizing about the “popular vote,” especially from those short-sighted twits who seem to think that merely because they are celebrities, they have something important to say.
Don Michael