this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2023
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politics

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I learned in school that a principle of democracy is the equal vote.

In a direct democracy, this is true. In a representative democracy, this is not.

In the USA each vote counts for a random amount

It isn't random, and the amount is absolutely gamed in favor of a certain party, which is, again, why we need strong institutions.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The president isn't voted on as part of the representatives, the office of the president is a separate vote and is supposed to be a direct vote. But the number of electors for each state has not kept up with each state's population, which has fucked up the power of presidential votes.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

State electors are literally representatives

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The electors only exist because it made it possible to hold a vote across a large nation in a time when horses were the fastest mode of communication. And each elector was supposed to carry the results of the same number of voters.

But the country has grown, with some states growing in population much faster than others. Yet the number of electors remains unchanged. Not to mention electors are now completely unnecessary as we have fast and reliable communication methods.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

You can disagree with the electoral college and still recognize that electors are literally representatives.

This is basic civics.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

But they aren't really, they're just vote messengers, they aren't on capital hill making laws and advocating for their constituents.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

All representatives are "vote messengers." That's why we call them representatives.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I would disagree that senators and congressmen are just vote messengers. They run on active platforms, respond to changes in their constituencies (hopefully), deal with new issues as they arise.

Electors literally just ferry the states vote to Washington, that's it and job done. Representatives continually represent the will of their constituents through multiple years, or at least that's what they are supposed to do.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

respond to changes in their constituencies

Yes. This is being a representative.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yes, and how exactly do electors do that on an ongoing basis?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

They do it when they're in the role.

Why are you so passionate about something so simple? This entire conversation is confusing to me, in terms of intent.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

And what about the other 1200+ days they aren't in the role for each 1 they are in it?

Why are you so passionate in misusing the term representative?

Representatives are more than just vote carriers.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Indeed they often are. They are also advocates, in general.

However

And what about the other 1200+ days they aren’t in the role for each 1 they are in it?

Electors are chosen each cycle and are different people.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So they're just vote carriers. Unlike the actual representatives on this hill who spend most of the year actually governing for you.

Cool. Glad you cleared up that electors are useless and not really representatives.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

They're still appointed representatives of the state, though. States vote in the election, per the Constitution.

I'd love to ditch the EC, but it does exist, and the electors are representatives. This isn't complicated at all, and I'm not sure why this is personal to you.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No one voted for them, they are not representatives. They are vote carriers.

Sullying the actual work representatives do by calling glorified vote carriers the same thing is an insult to the word representative.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They represent the state in the actual election of the President. "Faithless electors" are a thing, at least as a theoretical concept.

It's not insulting to use words for what they mean. I am so very confused by your underlying hostility here.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm so very confused why you continue to argue your bullshit side.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You have a great day man. This is going nowhere.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

No shit, you could have stopped replying your incorrect side ages ago.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Normalize saying "Republicans" instead of "a certain party"