Calls from many Democrats for a constitutional amendment to scrap the Electoral College for U.S. presidential elections and switch to a national popular vote system are all the rage. Just how popular is the move to switch to the popular vote? Pollster Nate Silver said the popular vote is fairly popular:
Pundits who are implying that eliminating the Electoral College is some sort of radical position should check the polls. Most people support a Constitutional amendment to change to a popular vote. https://t.co/92DHVMFTgv
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 20, 2019
Is that so? People have thoughts on that:
You mean it’s popular to change to the popular vote? Wow. That’s mind blowing stuff. Thanks Nate. https://t.co/kfafrwh0ic
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) March 20, 2019
We are not a democracy. The Founders were emphatic that we not be a democracy. Oh and if this ever changes, that really is the end of us. And will be the beginning of a national breakup of America. Rural America would never stand for being dominated like that.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) March 20, 2019
THAT'S THE POINT. https://t.co/2HLzvUT7np
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) March 20, 2019
1. Something being popular doesn't mean that advocating it isn't a radical position.
2. Systems built to protect the less powerful by giving them disproportionate privileges almost always rankles the majority. See: Affirmative Action. https://t.co/ya1DvuilKT— neontaster (@neontaster) March 20, 2019
Radical does not mean "unpopular." Thankfully, it takes more support than that to amend the constitution. https://t.co/iWOrivGHDM
— art jones (@drivenbyart) March 20, 2019
“Area Majorities Favor Eliminating Counter-majoritarian Protections” https://t.co/MdPBTYzhzu
— Daniel Foster (@DanFosterType) March 20, 2019
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Unfortunately for Dems, no matter how “popular” they say the popular vote would be, it won’t be popular enough in the way it has to be, at least not for a long time:
The only thing that matters is whether 2/3s of Congress and 38 state legislatures agree. They don’t, and they won’t for the foreseeable future. It’s exactly this reality that enables candidates to so casually support abolition. https://t.co/MdPBTYzhzu
— Daniel Foster (@DanFosterType) March 20, 2019
Removing the Electoral college would require a Constitutional convention, a 2/3 majority in each half of Congress, and ratification by 38 states, many of which are tiny & want to protect their power.
Ain't gonna happen. https://t.co/JlaDLnfoEG
— EnterTheKingdom (@1Thunder_Struck) March 20, 2019
But since so many are on a “popular vote” kick, a final assignment:
Now… Do laws that ban third trimester abortion. https://t.co/0CliAJaSYL
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) March 20, 2019
We’ll wait.
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