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Dec. 31st, 2016 01:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariThe 2016 election has really messed with my sense of civics.
I am not a fan of popular elections. What's popular isn't always right. I also believe the voice of the little guy often gets drowned out. It's why I have always been happy with the election process we have up to now: It allows for larger states to NOT dominate elections, and the Electoral College to make sure that we don't fuck up as a nation electing nonqualified people to office.
But this year...it all worked as it should...against everything I believe in.
While I have my issues with the winner takes all aspect of assigning electors, I have been okay with the electoral college apportioning of votes. It keeps California and/or Texas from dictating the election at the expense of a Wyoming or Rhode Island.
But in this case, it got Trump elected.
But that's okay - because the electoral college is supposed to keep that from happening. I knew Republican pledged electors wouldn't vote for Clinton, but they should have at least not voted for Trump. And yet they did. In fact, only two Republican Electors voted for someone other than Trump (and a few more WANTED to, but were replaced)...but five decided not to vote for Clinton.
And in this case, it got Trump elected.
It's like the process worked...but it was PLAYED. Played like a violin.
I've never trusted politicians. Anyone who seeks the kind of power politics affords immediately loses my trust. But this...I've tried to wrap my brain around some of the logic behind what I see in politics...and it's gone from "Trying to govern the people fairly" to "My way is the only way." Two big parties (although mostly ONE big party) throwing tantrums to get their way, and the people in the middle losing out.
I really fear for the future of America. The processes are being played, the politicians are playing it, and the uneducated electorate is eating it up.
I am not a fan of popular elections. What's popular isn't always right. I also believe the voice of the little guy often gets drowned out. It's why I have always been happy with the election process we have up to now: It allows for larger states to NOT dominate elections, and the Electoral College to make sure that we don't fuck up as a nation electing nonqualified people to office.
But this year...it all worked as it should...against everything I believe in.
While I have my issues with the winner takes all aspect of assigning electors, I have been okay with the electoral college apportioning of votes. It keeps California and/or Texas from dictating the election at the expense of a Wyoming or Rhode Island.
But in this case, it got Trump elected.
But that's okay - because the electoral college is supposed to keep that from happening. I knew Republican pledged electors wouldn't vote for Clinton, but they should have at least not voted for Trump. And yet they did. In fact, only two Republican Electors voted for someone other than Trump (and a few more WANTED to, but were replaced)...but five decided not to vote for Clinton.
And in this case, it got Trump elected.
It's like the process worked...but it was PLAYED. Played like a violin.
I've never trusted politicians. Anyone who seeks the kind of power politics affords immediately loses my trust. But this...I've tried to wrap my brain around some of the logic behind what I see in politics...and it's gone from "Trying to govern the people fairly" to "My way is the only way." Two big parties (although mostly ONE big party) throwing tantrums to get their way, and the people in the middle losing out.
I really fear for the future of America. The processes are being played, the politicians are playing it, and the uneducated electorate is eating it up.
