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Voting by SkylorForscythe
To my fellow US citizens.
Today is November 6th and the polls are open. People are standing in line. Votes are being cast as you read these words. Decisions are made that will determine who we want to be the most powerful person in the free world.
Regardless of political affiliation, this is an important matter, because it is all of our civic duties to take part in this process. You've doubtlessly heard this a few times today on this very website in the journals of others, but there is a reason for this.
It's because it is important enough to bear repeating.
If you're registered to vote, you need to be standing in line today. You need to be making your voice heard on this day. Regardless of what some may think, the nation and her people ARE listening.
If you haven't registered in time, then you MUST make sure you register before the next voting cycle. You may have missed this presidential election, but in two years, there are more things to vote on that DO matter. That's not long to wait.
If you're not old enough to register, then you're time will come. You just need to be patient. This doesn't leave you out, however, because you can always start paying attention to how things work right now.
If you're not a US citizen, then I thank you greatly for your input in our political process. However, if you're just here to talk about how shitty the options are this time, or how the entire process sucks, then you must know your opinion doesn't amount to shit. No system is perfect, just remember that.
In conclusions...
GO VOTE, AMERICANS!
Voting
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At one time, the electoral college served a purpose, as the education of the average US citizen at the formation of our nation and political system was nil compared with today, and there needed to be a set group of the educated in place to make sure the nation and it's principles weren't screwed by those that were simply ignorant as to how things were supposed to work.
This may seem odd looking back on it, with our modern educations, but this was a very real threat. The US Constitution, for example, isn't an easy document to understand now, so imagine trying to understand what it says and how it makes things work if you had essentially no education to begin with.
Today, the electoral college is antiquated and unnecessary, but we haven't gotten around to having it removed. For some, it's a matter of difficulty in doing so. For others, it's a matter of tradition and is kept simply because of this. If you yourself are European, rather than just using the example of Euro-politics to make your point, I'm sure you'll understand better than even I how hard it can be to remove something that some hold as a heart held tradition in your home country.
Speaking of European political processes, please do keep in mind that there's a better than good chance that your own country's process is based, in part or in whole, on the example pioneered by the American political system. Before our government was formed, a representative republic of it's type had never been seen before in the way it's set to operate. This brings us to a very common problem with "firsts". If you're first, you have no examples to follow.
In other words, with your own political system, you've had it easy as you've had something to look at in how yours is formed. That isn't a dig, however, because I'm very happy for you in having a "simpler" system, but it IS something to keep in mind before you think to slam a particular system.
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Thank you for exhaustive answer. I know, that to remove the electoral college there is need to change constitution and I know that is nearly impossible thing to do because of tradition. Even in my country changes in constitution are very difficult to make. For example in constitution states "marriage is union of man and woman", so gay marriage are illegal and to change it, there is need to change constitution with 2/3 of all votes in parliament. But changes are possible and I believe they'll be done at one time.
As you say, there is problem with "firsts", but now the USA as well as any other country, have view how different systems works and can adjust and improve law to be on time. Fortunately system works, because Obama won elections ;D I wouldn't feel comfortable seeing member of the sect handing so much power and having so much influence on everything ;)
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See, this is where we face a problem. Those of us that do recognize the problem are most certainly in the majority, thanks to the party line brainwashing passed down that there's nothing wrong with America.
And you're very right, it would take a change to our Constitution to abolish the electoral college. The issue we face isn't necessarily in getting the 2/3 majority of state's votes to change it (Nice opportunity here to see one of the more bold similarities thanks to our founders), but the fact that there is the legitimate concern of someone seeing how easy it is and doing it to take away our rights.
This is most definitely a slippery slope argument, but it's one that even the rational can't ignore. Not because of the evidence brought to the table, but because of how serious the consequences really are if it happened. And if there's one thing that'll get American's defending the status quo, it's a threat to our freedom.
Freedom in our country was hard fought and paid for in the blood of millions, and regardless of how jaded or stupid those in some parts of the country may seem, that's a fact we all remember and a legacy that we generally refuse to tarnish.
I say generally, because there are bits of tarnish here and there where we've sacrificed freedom for something of one form or another. Not everyone lives their lives here by the immortal words of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. "Those who would sacrifice freedom for security, are deserving of neither."
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gravedigger
I've never understand US voting system, it's so complicated and paradoxically very non-democratic. Instead voting on one person there are some electors, electoral college and stuff. In most European countries it is simple: who get most votes in all country, wins. In the USA it's not so obvious.