US US Politics 2024

[Lou]

I first learned about the Electoral College in high school- ....

As to the rationale for it: ...

I read a really good article by a black professor of American history. I'll try to come up with with his name and Thea link to the article if anyone is interested.

Anyway his premise it that all American history can be viewed thru the lens of racism. Even the constitution. Back in the 18th century it was basically slave states vs free states. The slave states were predominately rural and had less people living in them. the free states had more people AND more economic clout. So the slave states were afraid that the free state could dominate them in all political maters. Thus the Electoral College was born.

Oh, I went and looked for the article. but found this instead.

The Troubling Reason the Electoral College Exists

The Founding Fathers had something particular in mind when they set up the U.S. presidential election system: slavery

time.com

 

[Tom L.]

@Lou WHOA. I hadn't come across that line of reasoning. Needless to say (but I'm gonna say it anyway)... If the article you linked to is true, it's beyond ironic that the enslaved population of the Southern states gave those states extra electoral clout- even though the slaves themselves were not allowed to vote.