The Case for a People’s President: Analytical Paper

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The Case for a People’s President: Analytical Paper 〰️

When the United States was founded, the world was a very different place. Our founding fathers had an entirely different set of issues they had to tackle to ensure the birth of this nation and the creation of her laws was as smooth a process as possible. Becoming the nation we are now has required compromise and acknowledging that we have to change some things if we truly wish to progress forward and not backward. The issues modern-day American leaders face are very distant from those of the early days of a radical experiment in self-government. Because that is what America is, a radical experiment in democracy that we consistently test and hope to propel forward. While we continue to shatter glass ceilings and make history, America is far from perfect and often encounters uneven progression in its desire to be the greatest nation. A country that prides itself on progress and advancement in all aspects of life continues to deal with multifaceted societal issues (i.e., racism, sexism, economic crisis, environmental issues, etc.) that can cause much division because of their respective complexities. However, what makes America stand out is its people – the young, the old, and everyone in between. The variety of faiths and religious beliefs range in political opinions, diverse ethnic backgrounds, people in various professions, and individual life experiences shape us into this nation where anyone can be anything they want to be. But the ‘radical’ aspect of America lies in the ability of its citizens to vote. In his farewell address to the nation, President Obama spoke of the most important office in a democracy. Some may express that the office of the President is the most significant. The former President believes that citizens hold the most essential title of all. The pendulum of power will shift from red and blue, but the role of the citizens in a democracy will always remain the most influential. They vote, sign petitions, and get others involved in vital causes and initiatives. Citizens are the backbone of a democracy. Whether red, blue or somewhere outside or in-between, “We, the People, through the instrument of our democracy, can form a more perfect union. What a radical idea. A great gift that our Founders gave to us: The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat and toil and imagination, and the imperative to strive together, as well, to achieve a common good, a greater good.” (Obama). While there are many ways to get involved in shaping the future of the United States, the right to vote remains the main job to accomplish that for all eligible voters in the country. America, however, is not a direct democracy, meaning people do not get to vote directly on proposed legislation, laws, and more. As a representative, indirect democracy, Americans vote for leaders who vote on their behalf on various issues and propose legislation to address said issues. However, some states like California, for example, allow its residents to vote on ballot measures, which is the closest thing they have to direct democracy. In terms of presidential elections, there are two types of votes (the popular vote and electoral college) we examine to determine the winner. Still, only one holds significant value in the end: the electoral college. The American Bar Association explains, “Electors are chosen through political party processes in each state and typically are bound by state law to vote for the candidate they represent” (ABA). In the two most recent elections, the electoral college’s role in voting has been the center of much debate and divide.

The 2016 election was the first in some time to elect a candidate for the highest office in the land who did not win the popular vote but did win the electoral vote. It is, without doubt, a very controversial topic, but the call for abolishing the system and going forward with a national popular vote is gaining momentum. Realistically speaking, it will be challenging to move forward with this idea, primarily because of something called compact theory, which “refers to the idea that the U.S. was formed through an agreement (compact) between the state governments. Proponents of compact theory argue that since the states created the federal government via compact, they should have final authority in determining when the federal government oversteps its constitutional limits” (Ballotpedia). However, that is not to say the system cannot have some modifications better to fit the needs and demands of modern-day America. The electoral college is outdated and unfair in ensuring a true democracy where the people select their leaders. I support abolishing, but since that may not be realistic, the next best thing would be to implement modifications and set the system to be more fair and reflective of what the people want. The United States should move forward with enacting changes to the electoral college.

There are numerous reasons why it is necessary to change the heavily criticized voting system. Foremost, the electoral system as is it makes many Americans feel like their vote does not truly count. This is problematic because we want people to involve themselves in every election at every level of government. After all, the most American thing a citizen can do is vote. While the 2020 elections saw record numbers of individuals voting, a lot was on the line for the country’s future, and many organizations and individuals urged others to get involved. However, we may not see that kind of involvement in future elections if people continue to feel like their voice does not matter. Citizens Take Action believes that “a representative democracy only works if citizens are politically engaged. We must stay informed and hold our elected officials accountable. Otherwise, there is an increased risk that our representatives will not do what is in our best interests. By devaluing votes in the majority of states, the Electoral College deters citizens from being informed and involved, weakening the very foundation upon which our country is supposed to stand” (CTA). To have good leaders and policies in place that accurately reflect the American people, we need to make sure they have a say. Elections matter at every level; if they did not, we would not be seeing Republican-led states trying so hard to restrict who can vote.

Furthermore, it is undemocratic to have a system where the candidate with the most votes on the national level does not automatically win without the necessary electoral votes. In addition, “The Electoral College makes it unnecessarily difficult for many Americans to effectively participate in a presidential campaign. That perverse result can deter the kind of political engagement necessary to ensure that our government truly represents We The People” (CTA). The electoral college also gives far too much power to swing states and lets the voice of a few dictate the outcome for all. It comes down to approximately twelve states that hold a considerable amount of power due to the electoral college. Many candidates will focus their efforts on these states and their needs more than others because of how crucial they are for winning an election. All states have their sets of needs, and these candidates should be focusing on hearing the needs of all Americans, and not just some. The current system places far too much emphasis on the smaller regions that are not always as easily impacted as those in larger cities. The playing field needs some evening out.

Another issue with the electoral college involves rouge electors, also known as faithless electors. Most of the time, electors are loyal to what the state’s constituents voted for, but that is not always the case, and there have been a few situations where an elector did not stay faithful to who their constituents voted for. According to the organization Fair Vote, “Altogether, there have been 23,507 electoral votes counted across 58 presidential elections. Only 90 electors have cast “deviant” votes, not ordinary votes for the presidential nominee of the elector’s political party.” Again, this is not a common thing we see in elections, but since they are no real consequences for faithless electors, something has to be done to prevent that from occurring at all in the future.

There are a few different ways we could potentially modify the electoral college to best first the needs of the modern-day. One option is to have proportional representation for electoral votes. This modification would guarantee that we lose the ‘winner-take-all’ type of situation. Another option is an agreement brought up around 2020 known as “the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which commits states to give their electoral votes to the national popular-vote winner and goes into effect once enough states sign on to provide the winning 270 electoral-vote total. So far, 15 blue states and the District of Columbia have passed the agreement” (Governing). The same article that discusses this agreement also brought up the importance of a Constitutional amendment that both sides of the aisle can agree on. There is a clear issue with the way the electoral college functions and it gives too much power to smaller regions. An amendment would help to even things out for all sides.

The United States and its people are not without their flaws. There are far too many corrupt and no longer beneficial systems that disrupt our potential to be better. The founding fathers never intended for America to be perfect (and they knew it never would be), but it does have the potential to be more than it is now. She is not a nation that seeks perfection but one that always has room for improvement. Our country is in desperate need of an overhaul. Modifying the system that gives people more of a say in the future they want for themselves and their neighbors is the first step in ensuring a more fair and just democracy.

Works Cited

Americanbar.org, www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2019/09/calls-to-change-electoral-college/.

FairVote.org. “Faithless Electors.” FairVote, www.fairvote.org/faithless_electors.

“Letters to the Editor: How to Fix the Electoral College without Changing the Constitution.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sept. 2020, www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-09-17/letters-to-the-editor-how-to-fix-the-electoral-college-without-changing-the-constitution.

The People Surrender Nothing': Social Compact Theory ...dev.ballotpedia.org/%22%27The_People_Surrender_Nothing%27:_Social_Compact_Theory,_Republicanism,_and_the_Modern_Administrative_State%22_by_Joseph_Postell_(2016).

President Obama’s Farewell Address, January 10, 2017. www.obamalibrary.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/President%20Obamas%20Farewell%20Address%20%28TRANSCRIPT%29.pdf.

Trent England, Christopher Pearson; Kevin Frazzini. Debating the Electoral College, www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/debating-the-electoral-college.aspx.

“Why We Need to Fix the Electoral College.” Citizens Take Action, 24 Feb. 2022, citizenstakeaction.org/why-fix-the-electoral-college/.