Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Barbara Boxer Takes On ... Well ... The Establishment!

What else would you call a body as anachronistic and outdated as the Electoral College? Reading through comment threads today clarified for me the divide in our nation. The Jedi mind-trick in defending the existence of the Electoral College involves somehow rationalizing the ascendancy and predominance of the minority. The problem, really, is not so much that there is an Electoral College.  It is more a problem of proportion and ratio.  There is nothing proportional in the allocation of electoral votes.
Those arguing in favor of the College as it stands have told me, more times than I cared to hear, that the College prevents, in various arguments, the east and west coasts, or New York and California, or New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles from dominating presidential elections.
We have heard all the arguments about the Founders and their wisdom in establishing this body and yada, yada, yada. This is the 21st century.  We are a diverse, well-educated, connected populace. When twice in a generation such a glaring discrepancy turns up between the popular and the electoral vote, it is time to make changes.  Here is what Senator Barbara Boxer wants to do about it and how you can get on board.
After signing on, contact your own senators and ask them to  support Senator Boxer's initiative.

Still,
For the second time in our lifetime, the winner of the popular vote lost the presidency.
Hillary Clinton will likely end up with ‎two million votes more than Donald Trump. She already leads by more than a million votes.
The presidency is the only office in our nation where you can get more votes and still lose. The Electoral College is an outdated, undemocratic system -- and it's time we abolish it for good.
Yesterday, I introduced legislation in the Senate to eliminate the Electoral College so the winner of presidential elections is determined by the outcome of the popular vote.
Will you stand with me -- and our democracy -- and add your name in support of my legislation to amend the Constitution of the United States to abolish the Electoral College?
Every American should have the guarantee that their vote will count. Even President-elect Donald Trump agrees. In 2012, he tweeted, "The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy."
The Electoral College just doesn't reflect our modern society, and it needs to be changed immediately. Every American should be guaranteed that their vote counts. One person, one vote!
Now more than ever, we must all come together and end this outdated system.
Will you add your name today in support of my legislation to abolish the Electoral College?
Thank you for standing with me in this fight.
In Friendship,
Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

05-06-16-g-04