What would be the advantages/disadvantages of changing to a strictly popular vot

1. 41

   ChristinSposted 8 years ago

   What would be the advantages/disadvantages of changing to a strictly popular vote system?
   
   Are delegates/super delegates really necessary in a modern age? If so, why? Shouldn't we be able to go by popular vote?  It's not like the old days where transportation and being rural etc should be that much of a problem - shouldn't be.
   
   What if everyone at the age of 18 were automatically registered to vote.  Open all primaries for the parties and let the candidates be chosen solely by popular vote - would that be a better or worse system than what's in place now?  Why or why not?
   
   NO political or candidate bickering - this is simply a question about how voting is carried out.  Thanks!

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2. 93

   lions44posted 8 years ago

   Mine is not a popular position, as I support the electoral college, but I feel very strongly about it.
   
   The main advantage is that it helps maintain the two-party system, which contrary to what we are hearing now, is vital to the stability of the nation.  We don't have to form coalition governments that rise and fall all the time.  It helps eliminate a fringe candidate and that's a good thing. There are a number of advantages, but I'll just focus on this one.
   
   For example, if a third party candidate even won enough electoral votes, and sent the final decision to the House of Representatives, they'll still need a majority of the State delegations to win outright election. In many ways, Trump was forced to run as a Republican because of the EC.  Also, the major parties would also want to have a "big tent," and welcome these outsiders into the party. So it is a unifying force.
   
   The main disadvantage - It gives the impression of disregarding the popular vote.  It's more complicated than that but we hard all of that during the ugly Bush-Gore decision. 
   
   Think you will have a lot of passionate responses on this one. Good luck.

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      ChristinSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I tend to disagree. I feel that the two party system is ripe for corruption and that we have needed more viable parties for a long time.

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      fpherj48posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Here we go again......Agreeing!  LOL

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3. 91

   UnnamedHaraldposted 8 years ago

   The founders didn't choose Representative Democracy over Direct Democracy because of transportation issues. They purposefully wanted to reduce the power of heavily populated areas (e.g. New York City, etc) and the "tyranny of the masses". Nearly all modern democracies are representative democracies. Personally, I think the founders also wanted to ensure that, while the power of government is rooted in the people, that power is quickly diluted once they've voted.

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      fpherj48posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      David....Thank you!  I can always count on you for the accurate answers to questions I never remember to research.  This one has always bothered me!

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      Dr Billy Kiddposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Very good explanation.
      My only thought is that maybe "the masses" should be represented in today's mass society.

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4. 58

   Alternative Primeposted 8 years ago

   There are NO Disadvantages that I can think of ~ In a REAL Credible Democracy, "We the People" would VOTE for our Pubic Servants which is exactly what does NOT happen now ~ In present day America, we are unfortunately relegated to merely survive in a "Kingdom Controlled by a few Greed Driven Capitalist" who OWN Trillions in Assets & Enslave Millions of American WORKERs ~ Capitalism, Wall Street & Derivatives thereof, is indeed the "ROOT of all EVIL" here on OUR only habitable Planet ~ "Drumpf" Trump is an admitted Capitalist, Ted Cruz is an admitted Capitalist & just about every other CONservative Republican is a capitalist PUPPET Bought & Paid for by Elitists ~ To REMOVE the BIG Money Corruption from our current election process, we must REMOVE the EARNINGs Based Metric from Wall Street ~ This is the ONLY way to ensure "We the People" actually control OUR Own Country with "ONE Vote for ONE American" to the Exclusion of ALL other metrics ~

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