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In Defense of the Electoral College

It’s a good a time as any to bring up this subject. John Samples at the Cato Institute argues for the Electoral College in an essay from the 2000 election.  Selections:

James Madison’s famous Federalist No. 10 makes clear that the Founders fashioned a republic, not a pure democracy. To be sure, they knew that the consent of the governed was the ultimate basis of government, but the Founders denied that such consent could be reduced to simple majority or plurality rule. In fact, nothing could be more alien to the spirit of American constitutionalism than equating democracy will the direct, unrefined will of the people.

Recall the ways our constitution puts limits on any unchecked power, including the arbitrary will of the people. Power at the national level is divided among the three branches, each reflecting a different constituency. Power is divided yet again between the national government and the states. Madison noted that these twofold divisions — the separation of powers and federalism — provided a “double security” for the rights of the people.

Read the rest here.

• The United States is not a democracy
• Stossel on deficit spending
• Practical, political, and moral reasons not to vote
• How the GOP Lost My Vote
• “Mark it 8, Dude”