The discussion about retaining or abolishing the Electoral College is divided between Republicans and Democrats. The reason; the truth. If the Electoral College did not exist, a Democrat would be living in the White House today, and would have been since 1993. Republicans know this fact and cannot accept that for 26 years America would have had a Democratic president.

Only one fact matters; if you live in Alabama, and support the Democratic candidate, you might as well stay at home; your vote will not count. If you are a Republican supporter in California; don’t bother.

The people should elect the president. This is not a state’s rights issue. And let’s be completely clear, if the Electoral College did not exist, there would be no red or blue states. There would be the United States. All candidates would be forced to pay attention to all 50 states if the popular vote decided who would be our nation’s leader.

Personally, I have been very upset since the terms “red” and “blue” states began. These ludicrous terms instantly divide America. The truth is that every state has liberals and conservatives and the Electoral College silences the voices of one entire group of voters.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez adds another fact to the discussion.

The freshman lawmaker said the Electoral College is a “scam” that has a “racial injustice breakdown” undermining the votes of people of color.

“Due to severe racial disparities in certain states, the Electoral College effectively weighs white voters over voters of color, as opposed to a ‘one person, one vote’ system where all our votes are counted equally,” she says, before pushing back against the argument that eliminating the Electoral College would give big states too much power.

“Could you image if we had this kind democracy-altering ‘fairness’ provision for literally any other group?” she asks. “If we weighed, for example, black and indigenous voters more because of unfairness?”

I remember a time when our government “did the right thing” most of the time. Deliberation and compromise between two opposing ideologies produced good government; not great, but good. Ensuring that every voter in America, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, religious preference, or political affinity, will have their vote counted is American and the right thing to do. 

This is democracy; the Electoral College is a parliamentary concept. This is not America.

Tell everyone, “the truth lives hear.”

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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