DON'T
TRY TO ABOLISH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Buffalo News;
Buffalo, N.Y.; Nov 20, 2000;
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[FINAL Edition] |
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Financial edition |
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B5 |
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Abstract:
Our
newly elected senator and constitutional scholar, Hillary Clinton, has
expressed her opinion that the Electoral College should be abolished. While I
do not recall Clinton bringing this up during her campaign, it is clear that
she recognizes the inherent advantage this would give to her party.
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Buffalo News Nov 20, 2000 |
Our newly elected senator and constitutional scholar, Hillary Clinton, has
expressed her opinion that the Electoral College should be abolished. While I
do not recall Clinton bringing this up during her campaign, it is clear that
she recognizes the inherent advantage this would give to her party.
The aggressive Democratic machines in the cities would be in perfect
position to generate big majorities among their largely liberal constituencies
in these areas, swamping the more balanced vote in the suburbs and the rest of
the country.
For those among us who might be seduced by the idea of a system "better
reflecting the will of the people," the experience of Germany after World
War I might be instructive. The Weimar Constitution was carefully designed to
ensure that "political power emanates from the people," and to ensure
that no German vote would be wasted.
In 1933, six months after an election in which the Nazi Party received less than
38 percent of the vote, and following a series of demonstrations and
constitutional wrangles, Adolph Hitler was appointed chancellor. Six months
after that, the government outlawed freedom of the press, all unions and all
political parties except one.
The rest, as they say, is history.
MALCOLM VANDERBURGH
Getzville