Friday, November 18, 2016

Electors are Heroes, if we want.

The system is structured in a way that shows objectively when we have a nation that has become dangerously divided.

If we find a mismatch between the Electoral vote and the popular vote, we can let that be a signal that we should look for an alternative someone who can reach across the political divide and bring the nation together. This is even more true if candidates on the ballot had historically high disapproval ratings in random polls. Imagine if Electors were allotted according to which candidate won the vote in each Congressional District. Then, when Electors gather in State Capitols, they would be a more diverse group. There could be lively discussions about possible alternatives, in an effort to find a consensus candidate. We need to tell our State Legislators we want that for next time.

Colleges do their best work when colleagues discuss from differing perspectives. (Imagine 2000 with Electoral Colleagues discussing among themselves what third name they might introduce, to heal the divide and take advantage of opportunities ordinarily not available to a system that only considers ambitious self-promoters.)

The Constitution gives a nod to this interpretation and this method of choosing (assignment by Congressional district) when it defines the number of Electors for each State as being equal to the number of persons in Congress representing the State. Modern science supports this interpretation when it reveals that groups made up of people with a diversity of views always arrive at better solutions than homogeneous groups when they have a chance to discuss various options.

Because Electors are chosen by a winner-take-all method in each State, we loose the opportunity to have this discussion among a diverse group of prominent or highly-respected citizens on the day of their meeting. So, to compensate, we can have the conversation now about what alternative names we would want to offer to Electors by way of suggestion, in hopes that they might travel across a state line to talk to a colleague from across the political divide and seek an accord. Even in their relatively homogeneous groups in the State Capitols, they will be better able to make a decision in conversation as colleagues rather than decide in silence to operate as a rubber-stamp mechanism.

Our Electors are Colleagues are Heroes. If we want. If they want. If there are enough Republican Electors who want to change their vote (37 out of over 300), we could have a surprisingly positive outcome of this election... IF they change their vote to a person whose public stature could ensure wide support from across the population. Electoral Colleagues vote in December. They CAN seek consensus. The November election gave #NoMandate to any candidate. (For a more lively discussion on December 19th, and to compensate for the distortion toward homogeneity caused by the winner-take-all system, Colleagues could invite their opposite numbers to the discussion, perhaps, at least until the homogeneity situation is remedied.

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