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
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.