"One
person, one vote."
You
and I should elect the President...but we don't-- due to that old Electoral
College, a relic of the Constitution that even Jefferson disparaged.
Four times in our history the person who won the popular vote was NOT
elected President, due to that "College"; the last time being our
famous "hanging chad" year of 2000.
What
to do?
Get
rid of the college and insist that one Kentucky vote is worth one Ohio vote, no
more, but no less.
Easier
said than done. There's lots of rationale, mainly by lawyers, who say the use
of the popular vote will produce multiple lawsuits---as if the present plan
hasn't! But if we truly believe in a representative democracy, we need to
start the ball rolling to amend the Constitution...and Kentucky can play a role.
CBS
Sunday Morning, the best news program on the air, reported on the
"Maryland Plan", whereby states, by agreement, no amendment, would
cast their electoral votes for the candidate who does get the most votes. The
plan would go into effect when enough states sign up whose electoral votes
equal 270, the number it takes to win. They are halfway there... and I would
hope Kentucky's legislature would pass the enabling resolution needed in the
next session. The latest poll shows 62% favor ending the College, including a
majority in both parties.
Meanwhile,
to learn more about our "Electoral Dysfunction" see the PBS program
of that title, which KET, assisting the public's education, will air this
Friday at 3am! (Thanks, KET.) Set your timers.
But
do urge your local Kentucky representative to pass the Maryland plan. Only the
future of the Republic rides on it.
For,
as the Capitol Steps reminded us Sunday night (in a wonderful program brought
to us by WUKY-FM).."Don't blame us, you elected them!"
If
only we did.
I'm just sayin'...
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