In this presidential election year 2008, people are once again remembering Florida and the 2000 election night when Al Gore thought he had won Florida. News coverage of the death of respected NBC news chief Tim Russert has reminded many of his "Florida! Florida! Florida!" analysis for news watchers that night.
Many of us simply do not remember our history lessons about why the electoral college is important. Simply put, and as I understand it, the electoral college arose out of concerns that high-density cities, states, and regions could unfairly weight national votes. It was decided that states would be given population-related voting numbers in an electoral college. This meant that California, Texas, and New York could not decide a presidential election.
I still do not understand how all of that works, but my husband explains it to me every election year and for about ten minutes I do understand. It's like a weird memory problem where one says, "Oh, I remember I did understand that once, so I'll rely on that understanding that I now don't remember!" Do you ever have moments like those?
Making the electoral vote process meaningful requires respect for it and efforts not to try to change it on a whim of a particular loss. In other words, if my candidate does not win due to the electoral college, I may want to dump the college so that only the popular votes count. I know, however, that if my candidate does not win the most popular votes but does have the winning number of electoral college votes, then I'm likely to want the electoral college again! I think this kind of thinking, by the way, produced the super delegates idea.
To understand the electoral process means to study, to learn, to remember, to reason...which we often try to avoid doing.
I will say right now that if my favorite candidate for president does not win due to the electoral collge at any time in my life, I will not vow to leave the United States. That is how strongly I've decided to be committed to honoring the college. I was in Switzerland when 9/11 happened, and I remember the feeling of not being able to fly home the next day, for which I had a pre-paid ticket. I remember what it was like when I heard all borders were closed and I knew I could not even sail into an American harbor to get home that way. I faced the news that I could not fly to Canada or Mexico, rent a car, and drive over the border to America, to Maryland, to home. I remember making a list of families in Switzerland with whom I might stay, on rotation, for six months if necessary. I remember hoping, first for reasons of my homeland's safety, that another attack would not happen. I remember adding reasons for me to get home soon in case another attack might happen: I would want to be at home, whatever might happen.
Those kinds of memories feed into my appreciation of the democratic government of the U. S. and the election process put into place long ago. These privileges give me a deep appreciation for my country, even when I do not see my candidates elected. I do not get my way all the time, yet I am free, in a free country, to try for it. I have read that no election process is perfect, that some elections have been bought, sold, stolen, or messed with in other ways. Yet, still, many of us choose to honor the ideals of the process. Its failures are not inherent, but arise out of abuses. The American habit is to be positive, never whining, and continue to hope for the best.
I think that most of the time we get the best. If we think of how many people are longing to get into the U. S. to live, to hope for a better future and through that hope to build one...then we will pause and honor the electoral process they so desire to participate in and strengthen.
This is a big year. I will be an election news hound for a while. Having lived in the Washington, DC area for most of my adult life, following election news is normal. It's a sort of normal-abnormal around these parts. And while on that subject, I join many others who will miss Tim Russert's analyses, interviews, and sheer kindness of heart alongside a sharp, clear mind. I hope that those who will miss his contributions this election season will be mindful not to attack those with opinions opposite theirs.
The final answer is: Vote! The electoral process in your state will take it all in, and your choice just might win. If you are not registered to vote, imagine yourself unable to get back into the U. S. some future day. Aren't voting and accepting the process "worth the trouble" after all?
» left by Jane Bullard (165 days 15 hours ago.)
Hi, I thank whoever wrote the encouaging comment above. It appears that I wrote it, but I didn't...although I do agree with myself. Smile. Again, dear reader, thanks! Respond to this comment
» left by Avis Ward(13,599) Avis Ward (165 days 13 hours ago.)
Oh Jane, what brilliance and patriotism! This was a thoroughly excellent read! At one point, I laughed out loud because just the other day, I told my roommate: "I was supposed to remember to tell you something I finally understood but have now forgotten and can't remember." Yes indeed, I have those moments! I liked so many things you shared, " I do not get my way all the time, yet I am free, in a free country, to try for it." Thank you for representing some truths about why I am proud to be an American. On a side note, a dear friend is a physican in Berlingen in the canton of Thurgau. I love visiting the area. Do you know it? I fly into Zurich.
» left by Anonymous (165 days 12 hours ago.)
Avis, how neat! And thanks for your kind words and I'm so glad you enjoyed reading ! We share a lot, including that we have friends in Switzerland. I have been in or through Berlingen, but can't remember when or why (smile - you'll connect with my memory blitz, I think). I have often flown in and out of Zurich when going to other parts of the world. I hope you can visit your friend before long-though the dollar is not helping such adventures these days. I deeply appreciate what you wrote! We're in for quite an election-season ride, I think, and it is never dull. Jane Respond to this comment
» left by Deirdre Reilly from Boston, MA (165 days 5 hours ago.)
Jane, Great article. You have made the electoral college easy for me to understand - for the first time. Tim Russert, whom you mention, would have loved this article, I'd bet. Great, great job!
» left by Jane (164 days 18 hours ago.)
Thanks for your comment! I hope that you remember what I helped you understand (smile). It gets complicated if you think about it, doesn't it? I agree with you wholeheartedly about Tim. Thanks. Respond to this comment
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