In the early days of the United States, the Electoral College was created for a very simple purpose.
The majority of the United States was either rural communities or farmland and for the most part, the citizens of this nation were relatively uneducated.
Much of the news of the day was spread by word of mouth or propaganda-driven publications.
Simply put, the average person may not have been capable or qualified to make informed decisions when it came to elections.
The Electoral College was made up of intellectuals who understood the operations of a successful government.
Therefore, ultimately it would be these people who would elect our president.
More than 200 years later, a lot has changed but a lot has remained the same.
If you had asked my just after the 2000 Presidential Election, I would have said I believed that the Electoral College should be abolished.
It was one of only two times in history that the winner of the popular vote did not win the election.
That being said, hindsight is 20/20.
And now, I can say after the events of 9/11 we've never been safer, we've eliminated one of the world's worst dictators in Saddam Hussein and we had several years of economic prosperity until recently.
I'm not saying anything for George W Bush's second term but as for his first, the Electoral College knew what it was doing.
This year's election is a very close race and is expected to stay that way.
It could also be one of the most vital times in our nation's history to make an accurate decision as to who will be leading our country for the next four years.
That being said, the Electoral College is essential.
In our day in age, we are a culture of instant gratification.
So, when we want information, we want it now.
This leads many to the Internet.
Unfortunately, the Internet allows anyone to publish anything, regardless of truth or accuracy.
So if the first thing somebody looks up and reads is Joe Blow's Vote 2008 Blog, you may get accuracy and fairness or you might end up with false scandal and lies.
And people will believe it! In addition, despite all the legitimate information out there, often people will rely on advertising to guide them.
Advertising is designed to sway opinions, not truly to inform.
Then we come to the influence of friends, family and the mass media, all of which tend to have their own agenda when it comes to the information they do or do not provide.
The Electoral College may be our only hope of getting this one right.
The majority of the United States was either rural communities or farmland and for the most part, the citizens of this nation were relatively uneducated.
Much of the news of the day was spread by word of mouth or propaganda-driven publications.
Simply put, the average person may not have been capable or qualified to make informed decisions when it came to elections.
The Electoral College was made up of intellectuals who understood the operations of a successful government.
Therefore, ultimately it would be these people who would elect our president.
More than 200 years later, a lot has changed but a lot has remained the same.
If you had asked my just after the 2000 Presidential Election, I would have said I believed that the Electoral College should be abolished.
It was one of only two times in history that the winner of the popular vote did not win the election.
That being said, hindsight is 20/20.
And now, I can say after the events of 9/11 we've never been safer, we've eliminated one of the world's worst dictators in Saddam Hussein and we had several years of economic prosperity until recently.
I'm not saying anything for George W Bush's second term but as for his first, the Electoral College knew what it was doing.
This year's election is a very close race and is expected to stay that way.
It could also be one of the most vital times in our nation's history to make an accurate decision as to who will be leading our country for the next four years.
That being said, the Electoral College is essential.
In our day in age, we are a culture of instant gratification.
So, when we want information, we want it now.
This leads many to the Internet.
Unfortunately, the Internet allows anyone to publish anything, regardless of truth or accuracy.
So if the first thing somebody looks up and reads is Joe Blow's Vote 2008 Blog, you may get accuracy and fairness or you might end up with false scandal and lies.
And people will believe it! In addition, despite all the legitimate information out there, often people will rely on advertising to guide them.
Advertising is designed to sway opinions, not truly to inform.
Then we come to the influence of friends, family and the mass media, all of which tend to have their own agenda when it comes to the information they do or do not provide.
The Electoral College may be our only hope of getting this one right.
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