Quote:
Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr
Thank you! Why this complex system? Is it merely relic of 18th century or is there still some functional reasoning behind it?
|
The governmental system of the United States is a evolutionary system. Often things are done because they have always been done and no one wants to or can make any drastic changes. This is probably a good thing. So we make small changes and small changes on those changes and often the people making the changes are not aware of all the ramifications of their decisions.... so other changes are made to correct.... well you get the idea.
In a perfect world, the US would scrap the constitution as a whole and write a new one reflecting a much larger country and a much more complex environment than our founding dudes had to deal with.
Could you imagine 50 states trying to rewrite the constitution? Yikes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr
Interesting. Has there ever been real debate about changing this a bit old fashioned method into direct popular vote or somekind of hybrid?
|
There have been over 700 proposed amendments to the constitution that deal with the electoral college. More than any other single issue. Why do we keep the electoral college?
1. It works and works well most of the time.
2. The electoral college, as presently operated, favours a two party system and since our major political offices are held by members of one of two political parties, there is no real incentive for changing it. The last thing the DNC and RNC want is another "X"NC muscling in on their territory.
To me there is a good solution and one that is solely up to the individual states. That would be to have a proportional electoral college. Get rid of the winner take all and apportion the same number of electoral votes across all of the candidates truly representing the people.
But as long as such decisions are made by Democrats and Republicans, don't expect any significant changes.
But to get back to your question -- tradition and a reluctance to change is why we does the things we does.