Often we debate about issues, complain about decisions, and offer ideas for improving different things in our country. Today I want to go a different route and talk about what my ideal America looks like.
In my America, every vote counts, because everyone's voice should be heard in an election. The United States Presidential Election uses the Electoral College rather than Popular Vote to decide who the President is going to be. In most cases (all but 5 in history), the winner of the Presidency won both the Electoral and Popular Vote. Here are the 5 cases in which Presidents lost the Popular Vote but still won the Presidency:
1. 1824 - John Quincy Adams (Democratic-Republican - Future National Republican)
This election was historical from many perspectives. The individual who became President, John Quincy Adams, did not win the Electoral Vote or the Popular Vote in the election of 1824. There were 4 candidates running for the Presidency that year (Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay). All 4 candidates were members of the Democratic-Republican Party; a party that would soon thereafter break into the Democratic Party led by Andrew Jackson, and the National Republican Party (later the Whig Party) led by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. Here were the results of the Electoral and Popular Votes:
Andrew Jackson - 99 ELECTORAL - 153,544 POPULAR
John Quincy Adams - 84 ELECTORAL - 108,740 POPULAR
William H. Crawford - 41 ELECTORAL - 40,856 POPULAR
Henry Clay - 37 ELECTORAL - 47,531 POPULAR
This election was the only time since the passing of the 12th Amendment when the House of Representatives decided the Presidency, as no candidate received the majority of the Electoral Votes. This is also known as the first election where the President didn't win the Popular Vote, even though the Popular Vote was not logged nationwide. There were many states that didn't log the Popular Vote numbers, as it was the Electoral Votes that mattered.
So John Quincy Adams won, even though he didn't receive the most Electoral or Popular Votes.
2. 1876 - Rutherford Hayes (R)
This election was one of the most disputed in American History. Samuel Tilden of New York beat out Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 Electoral Votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 Electoral Votes uncounted. the 20 uncounted votes were in dispute. Ultimately, the 20 disputed votes were awarded to Hayes after a legal and political battle, giving him the Electoral victory by 1 vote, 185 to 184. There are many who feel a deal was struck to resolve the dispute. The deal was called the Compromise of 1877. In return for the Democrats allowing Hayes to win the Election, the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction. The Compromise effectively ceded power in the Southern states to the Democratic Redeemers.
3. 1888 - Benjamin Harrison (R)
Although Benjamin Harrison received 233 Electoral Votes to Grover Cleveland's 168, Benjamin Harrison received fewer Popular Votes, with 5,439,853 to Cleveland's 5,540,309.
4. 2000 - George W. Bush (R)
George W. Bush received the greatest number of Electoral Votes getting 271 to Albert Gore's 266. The Popular Vote, however, went to Albert Gore who received 50,996,582 Popular Votes to George W. Bush's 50,456,062 Popular Votes. That was a difference of 540,520 Popular Votes.
The biggest controversy in the 2000 election came out of Florida, where the election was essentially decided. The final vote count in Florida was George W. Bush receiving 2,912,790 Popular Votes and Albert Gore receiving 2,912,253 Popular Votes.
5. 2016 - Donald Trump (R)
Donald Trump ended up with 304 Electoral Votes over Hillary Clinton who received only 227 Electoral Votes. The largest controversy with the 2016 Election results lies in the Popular Vote totals. Donald Trump received 62,980,160 Popular Votes and Hillary Clinton received 65,845,063 Popular Votes. The difference in Popular Vote was 2,864,903. Nearly 3 Million more people voted for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump, and yet Donald Trump became President of the United States.
___________________
Another interesting fact if you look at the 5 instances above where the individuals who didn't win the Popular Vote still won the Presidency (and in the case of John Quincy Adams, didn't win the Popular Vote or the Electoral Vote and still won the Presidency), is that the data really drives toward the answer to why Republicans in America are so strongly for (in most cases, with some exceptions) the abolishment of the Electoral College. In every case above, it was a Republican (or in the case of John Quincy Adams, a Future Republican, as he would break from the Democratic-Republican party to form the National Republican Party) who won.
The scary part is that three of the five instances occurred from 1824 to 1888, but most recently, the final 2 times a President was elected who did not receive the Popular Vote, have occurred in very recent years.
What the Electoral College does is disenfranchise voters across America with an antiquated electoral system that was created for reasons that really don't make sense in today's America. The Electoral College was created for 2 reasons. The first reason, to put it lightly, was because the government wanted a buffer between the population and the selection of a President because they didn't feel the people were smart enough to vote for a President. In more eloquent words, Hamilton explains this within the Federalist Papers. At that point in time, I would agree that the people were not informed when it came to what it takes to run a government. People didn't have ready access to information as we have today. Today, information is at everyone's fingertips 24 hours a day. Something happens or something is said, and it is all over the internet in minutes, travelling the world.
Back in the earlier days of America, news was very regional, and it travelled slowly. Today, if you still get a hard copy newspaper on your doorstep, chances are that by the time you sit down to read it, the news in it is already old to you, as you have heard it all and read it all online already, or seen it on the 24 hour news channels.
The second reason the Electoral College was created was to provide extra power to smaller states. By this argument, you are essentially saying that a state with few people should be held to the same standards as a state with millions more people. To that I say, what about the people?
The Electoral College is set up in such a way that if you win 50.1 percent of the Popular Vote in a state and your opponent wins 49.9 percent of the Popular Vote, you win every Electoral Vote for that state, leaving almost 50 percent of the voters in that state disenfranchised, which is completely and utterly unfair. The disenfranchised percentage can be even worse if a strong Third Party Candidate is also in the Presidential race.
If you move to a direct Popular Vote process for electing the President, the candidate who receives the most votes from the citizens of the United States becomes the President of the people. Interesting how much that makes sense. The argument from the Right is that the inner city environments in the United States are largely Democratic and will always vote Democratic. At this time, most inner city citizens do vote democratic, but there are some who don't, and that isn't a reason for keeping the Electoral College. That is a reason for the Republican Party to look at its platform and figure out why more people vote Democratic rather than Republican in those environments.
We have a political party that wants to keep an antiquated system of electing the President because they feel the system is unfair with a direct Popular Vote. Actually, the direct Popular Vote is the only fair way to elect the President. With a direct Popular Vote, you don't have voters in every state disenfranchised because their votes don't count once the Electoral Votes are dolled out.
In my America, the citizens of this great country directly elect the President of the United States.
In my America, politicians put the citizens of this country and the stability of this country over their own personal gain and party affiliation. We have 535 legislators in Washington D.C., and yet nothing gets done because of the extreme polarization we are experiencing in America today. In my America, politicians work together toward common goals that are good for the country and the people, and that aren't just check marks for a political party. In my America, politicians cross party lines and come to compromises on the small issues and the big issues, and true legislation is accomplished and put into place to bring America back to the thriving country it once was. In my America, politicians rip down the walls between them and look for solutions that are good for the country and the people, and not just for the Republicans or Democrats. In my America it isn't about which party has control over Congress at any time, because the people have control over Congress. Congress is made up of elected officials who go to Washington to do what the people, their constituents, want them to do. They fight for their constituents and what the people believe in, and come to solutions that may not be perfect or ideal, but that are agreed upon through collaboration and compromise, and that are the best solutions for the masses and the country.
In my America it doesn't matter if you are from Mexico, Honduras, Japan, Israel, India, Canada, or any other country in the world. You are here, you are a contributing member of our society, and the things you bring from the culture you grew up in only make my country stronger. You bring new food, new religious choices, new clothing trends, new technological and scientific advancements, worldly knowledge, and a diversity that helps America remain strong and productive as the most wonderful and diverse nation in the world. We will look into your background when you decide to come to our country, we will make you go through citizenship testing and complete a legal process to be allowed in and to become a citizen; but we welcome you with open arms if you meet those requirements.
In my America the schools are funded properly, teachers are taken care of and provided the resources needed to educate children. Arts programs thrive in my America, and extra-curricular activities are available to allow children to expand their focus, challenge themselves mentally and physically, and develop into well rounded adults. Parents are involved every step of the way, fostering an environment at home that promotes growth and learning. Those without the proper home environment can take part in school programs and community outreach programs designed to assist in the development of children. Additionally, vocational and life courses are available in my America to teach children skill-sets to assist them in future careers, and to teach children the fundamentals of money management, credit, etc.
In my America, the Federal Government, State Government, Municipalities, Schools, Parents and Community Members are all invested in our children's futures. We see more grass-roots political campaigns in my America, where regular citizens who are connected to their communities and who aren't corrupted by a mismanaged political juggernaut, run for office and win. They go off to work at the State and Federal level, and they never forget where they came from and who they are working for.
In my America, freedom of choice is a right for all women, and the support system for women is much stronger than the support system in America today. There are local clinics where women can get checkups and seek counseling regarding abortion without having to drive hundreds of miles or even drive to another state. Pregnant women considering abortion are required to go through multiple counseling sessions where alternative options are discussed before the final decision is made by the mother. Women are taught about support networks that will help them through the early childhood years, and about financial assistance that could help. They are taught that the only option doesn't have to be abortion. If the final decision is abortion, that is a decision the law stands behind and supports. There are, however, limits to the use of abortion as an option for women. Abortion clinics cannot be used as revolving doors, so legislation exists in my America that clearly defines the limits to the freedom of choice. Improved support organizations and community outreach organizations lead to a lower abortion rate in my America, but those who do choose abortion are not denigrated and shunned by society.
In my America, there are term limits for both the President and members of Congress. The time of incumbents being in office for decades is a thing of the past.
In my America, people can go to college without coming out the other side tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.
In my America there are programs started to get homeless off the streets permanently. Privately and publicly funded, halfway houses are constructed with built in businesses such as pallet reclamation, recycling, and others to offer temporary to permanent employment for individuals who are homeless. The individuals live in small, efficiency apartments, are provided with counseling, job skills workshops, life coaching, clothing assistance, etc. in order to get them back on their feet and independently living in society. Communities stand behind these organizations because they help the community and help people who had no where else to turn.
In my America, Veterans get a medical card and can go to any hospital to get whatever medical attention they need. They don't have to travel hours to get to an appointment at a VA medical center or clinic. They can go to their local family doctor and receive the same care without the red tape and major travel.
In my America, Social Security is funded because there is no cap on the contribution into the system. There is a standard percentage rate that everyone pays, regardless of making 50 thousand dollars or 5 million dollars per year. Switching to that system saved Social Security almost immediately. In the old system, the Social Security Tax Percentage was 6.2%, and the cap on Social Security Taxation was $128,400. That meant that someone making more than that capped amount would not have to pay anything additional into the Social Security Tax. So someone making $128,400 would pay in $7,960.80. Someone making $25 Million would also pay in $7,960.80. With the new system in my America, the tax percentage is 5% and there is no income cap on the tax.
This is getting long, so I will end it here soon. My point is, everyone has ideas of what their ideal America looks like. Those ideas should turn to conversations and debates, which should turn to legislation and change. They don't, however, because we are a polarized country right now and people are locked into core belief structures and unwilling to compromise in any way for the betterment of the masses and the country.
We need to get past this, and fast, because if we cannot, I fear for my children and grand-children who have to live in this world long after I am gone. Share your visions of what your America is with me either in comments or through email at stephendunkel@gmail.com.
DUNK
In my America, every vote counts, because everyone's voice should be heard in an election. The United States Presidential Election uses the Electoral College rather than Popular Vote to decide who the President is going to be. In most cases (all but 5 in history), the winner of the Presidency won both the Electoral and Popular Vote. Here are the 5 cases in which Presidents lost the Popular Vote but still won the Presidency:
1. 1824 - John Quincy Adams (Democratic-Republican - Future National Republican)
This election was historical from many perspectives. The individual who became President, John Quincy Adams, did not win the Electoral Vote or the Popular Vote in the election of 1824. There were 4 candidates running for the Presidency that year (Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay). All 4 candidates were members of the Democratic-Republican Party; a party that would soon thereafter break into the Democratic Party led by Andrew Jackson, and the National Republican Party (later the Whig Party) led by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. Here were the results of the Electoral and Popular Votes:
Andrew Jackson - 99 ELECTORAL - 153,544 POPULAR
John Quincy Adams - 84 ELECTORAL - 108,740 POPULAR
William H. Crawford - 41 ELECTORAL - 40,856 POPULAR
Henry Clay - 37 ELECTORAL - 47,531 POPULAR
This election was the only time since the passing of the 12th Amendment when the House of Representatives decided the Presidency, as no candidate received the majority of the Electoral Votes. This is also known as the first election where the President didn't win the Popular Vote, even though the Popular Vote was not logged nationwide. There were many states that didn't log the Popular Vote numbers, as it was the Electoral Votes that mattered.
So John Quincy Adams won, even though he didn't receive the most Electoral or Popular Votes.
2. 1876 - Rutherford Hayes (R)
This election was one of the most disputed in American History. Samuel Tilden of New York beat out Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 Electoral Votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 Electoral Votes uncounted. the 20 uncounted votes were in dispute. Ultimately, the 20 disputed votes were awarded to Hayes after a legal and political battle, giving him the Electoral victory by 1 vote, 185 to 184. There are many who feel a deal was struck to resolve the dispute. The deal was called the Compromise of 1877. In return for the Democrats allowing Hayes to win the Election, the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction. The Compromise effectively ceded power in the Southern states to the Democratic Redeemers.
3. 1888 - Benjamin Harrison (R)
Although Benjamin Harrison received 233 Electoral Votes to Grover Cleveland's 168, Benjamin Harrison received fewer Popular Votes, with 5,439,853 to Cleveland's 5,540,309.
4. 2000 - George W. Bush (R)
George W. Bush received the greatest number of Electoral Votes getting 271 to Albert Gore's 266. The Popular Vote, however, went to Albert Gore who received 50,996,582 Popular Votes to George W. Bush's 50,456,062 Popular Votes. That was a difference of 540,520 Popular Votes.
The biggest controversy in the 2000 election came out of Florida, where the election was essentially decided. The final vote count in Florida was George W. Bush receiving 2,912,790 Popular Votes and Albert Gore receiving 2,912,253 Popular Votes.
5. 2016 - Donald Trump (R)
Donald Trump ended up with 304 Electoral Votes over Hillary Clinton who received only 227 Electoral Votes. The largest controversy with the 2016 Election results lies in the Popular Vote totals. Donald Trump received 62,980,160 Popular Votes and Hillary Clinton received 65,845,063 Popular Votes. The difference in Popular Vote was 2,864,903. Nearly 3 Million more people voted for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump, and yet Donald Trump became President of the United States.
___________________
Another interesting fact if you look at the 5 instances above where the individuals who didn't win the Popular Vote still won the Presidency (and in the case of John Quincy Adams, didn't win the Popular Vote or the Electoral Vote and still won the Presidency), is that the data really drives toward the answer to why Republicans in America are so strongly for (in most cases, with some exceptions) the abolishment of the Electoral College. In every case above, it was a Republican (or in the case of John Quincy Adams, a Future Republican, as he would break from the Democratic-Republican party to form the National Republican Party) who won.
The scary part is that three of the five instances occurred from 1824 to 1888, but most recently, the final 2 times a President was elected who did not receive the Popular Vote, have occurred in very recent years.
What the Electoral College does is disenfranchise voters across America with an antiquated electoral system that was created for reasons that really don't make sense in today's America. The Electoral College was created for 2 reasons. The first reason, to put it lightly, was because the government wanted a buffer between the population and the selection of a President because they didn't feel the people were smart enough to vote for a President. In more eloquent words, Hamilton explains this within the Federalist Papers. At that point in time, I would agree that the people were not informed when it came to what it takes to run a government. People didn't have ready access to information as we have today. Today, information is at everyone's fingertips 24 hours a day. Something happens or something is said, and it is all over the internet in minutes, travelling the world.
Back in the earlier days of America, news was very regional, and it travelled slowly. Today, if you still get a hard copy newspaper on your doorstep, chances are that by the time you sit down to read it, the news in it is already old to you, as you have heard it all and read it all online already, or seen it on the 24 hour news channels.
The second reason the Electoral College was created was to provide extra power to smaller states. By this argument, you are essentially saying that a state with few people should be held to the same standards as a state with millions more people. To that I say, what about the people?
The Electoral College is set up in such a way that if you win 50.1 percent of the Popular Vote in a state and your opponent wins 49.9 percent of the Popular Vote, you win every Electoral Vote for that state, leaving almost 50 percent of the voters in that state disenfranchised, which is completely and utterly unfair. The disenfranchised percentage can be even worse if a strong Third Party Candidate is also in the Presidential race.
If you move to a direct Popular Vote process for electing the President, the candidate who receives the most votes from the citizens of the United States becomes the President of the people. Interesting how much that makes sense. The argument from the Right is that the inner city environments in the United States are largely Democratic and will always vote Democratic. At this time, most inner city citizens do vote democratic, but there are some who don't, and that isn't a reason for keeping the Electoral College. That is a reason for the Republican Party to look at its platform and figure out why more people vote Democratic rather than Republican in those environments.
We have a political party that wants to keep an antiquated system of electing the President because they feel the system is unfair with a direct Popular Vote. Actually, the direct Popular Vote is the only fair way to elect the President. With a direct Popular Vote, you don't have voters in every state disenfranchised because their votes don't count once the Electoral Votes are dolled out.
In my America, the citizens of this great country directly elect the President of the United States.
In my America, politicians put the citizens of this country and the stability of this country over their own personal gain and party affiliation. We have 535 legislators in Washington D.C., and yet nothing gets done because of the extreme polarization we are experiencing in America today. In my America, politicians work together toward common goals that are good for the country and the people, and that aren't just check marks for a political party. In my America, politicians cross party lines and come to compromises on the small issues and the big issues, and true legislation is accomplished and put into place to bring America back to the thriving country it once was. In my America, politicians rip down the walls between them and look for solutions that are good for the country and the people, and not just for the Republicans or Democrats. In my America it isn't about which party has control over Congress at any time, because the people have control over Congress. Congress is made up of elected officials who go to Washington to do what the people, their constituents, want them to do. They fight for their constituents and what the people believe in, and come to solutions that may not be perfect or ideal, but that are agreed upon through collaboration and compromise, and that are the best solutions for the masses and the country.
In my America it doesn't matter if you are from Mexico, Honduras, Japan, Israel, India, Canada, or any other country in the world. You are here, you are a contributing member of our society, and the things you bring from the culture you grew up in only make my country stronger. You bring new food, new religious choices, new clothing trends, new technological and scientific advancements, worldly knowledge, and a diversity that helps America remain strong and productive as the most wonderful and diverse nation in the world. We will look into your background when you decide to come to our country, we will make you go through citizenship testing and complete a legal process to be allowed in and to become a citizen; but we welcome you with open arms if you meet those requirements.
In my America the schools are funded properly, teachers are taken care of and provided the resources needed to educate children. Arts programs thrive in my America, and extra-curricular activities are available to allow children to expand their focus, challenge themselves mentally and physically, and develop into well rounded adults. Parents are involved every step of the way, fostering an environment at home that promotes growth and learning. Those without the proper home environment can take part in school programs and community outreach programs designed to assist in the development of children. Additionally, vocational and life courses are available in my America to teach children skill-sets to assist them in future careers, and to teach children the fundamentals of money management, credit, etc.
In my America, the Federal Government, State Government, Municipalities, Schools, Parents and Community Members are all invested in our children's futures. We see more grass-roots political campaigns in my America, where regular citizens who are connected to their communities and who aren't corrupted by a mismanaged political juggernaut, run for office and win. They go off to work at the State and Federal level, and they never forget where they came from and who they are working for.
In my America, freedom of choice is a right for all women, and the support system for women is much stronger than the support system in America today. There are local clinics where women can get checkups and seek counseling regarding abortion without having to drive hundreds of miles or even drive to another state. Pregnant women considering abortion are required to go through multiple counseling sessions where alternative options are discussed before the final decision is made by the mother. Women are taught about support networks that will help them through the early childhood years, and about financial assistance that could help. They are taught that the only option doesn't have to be abortion. If the final decision is abortion, that is a decision the law stands behind and supports. There are, however, limits to the use of abortion as an option for women. Abortion clinics cannot be used as revolving doors, so legislation exists in my America that clearly defines the limits to the freedom of choice. Improved support organizations and community outreach organizations lead to a lower abortion rate in my America, but those who do choose abortion are not denigrated and shunned by society.
In my America, there are term limits for both the President and members of Congress. The time of incumbents being in office for decades is a thing of the past.
In my America, people can go to college without coming out the other side tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.
In my America there are programs started to get homeless off the streets permanently. Privately and publicly funded, halfway houses are constructed with built in businesses such as pallet reclamation, recycling, and others to offer temporary to permanent employment for individuals who are homeless. The individuals live in small, efficiency apartments, are provided with counseling, job skills workshops, life coaching, clothing assistance, etc. in order to get them back on their feet and independently living in society. Communities stand behind these organizations because they help the community and help people who had no where else to turn.
In my America, Veterans get a medical card and can go to any hospital to get whatever medical attention they need. They don't have to travel hours to get to an appointment at a VA medical center or clinic. They can go to their local family doctor and receive the same care without the red tape and major travel.
In my America, Social Security is funded because there is no cap on the contribution into the system. There is a standard percentage rate that everyone pays, regardless of making 50 thousand dollars or 5 million dollars per year. Switching to that system saved Social Security almost immediately. In the old system, the Social Security Tax Percentage was 6.2%, and the cap on Social Security Taxation was $128,400. That meant that someone making more than that capped amount would not have to pay anything additional into the Social Security Tax. So someone making $128,400 would pay in $7,960.80. Someone making $25 Million would also pay in $7,960.80. With the new system in my America, the tax percentage is 5% and there is no income cap on the tax.
This is getting long, so I will end it here soon. My point is, everyone has ideas of what their ideal America looks like. Those ideas should turn to conversations and debates, which should turn to legislation and change. They don't, however, because we are a polarized country right now and people are locked into core belief structures and unwilling to compromise in any way for the betterment of the masses and the country.
We need to get past this, and fast, because if we cannot, I fear for my children and grand-children who have to live in this world long after I am gone. Share your visions of what your America is with me either in comments or through email at stephendunkel@gmail.com.
DUNK
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