The Value Of Your 2016 Vote
D. S. Mitchell
On High Heat
My head just keeps spinning. In case no one has noticed the political discussion in the United States has become so heated between opposing factions that I am hearing of divorces and office fights over the 2016 election results. Really? So, just for fun, I played with some numbers and I thought I might light a political fire under my readers. It’s seat of the pants mathematics but, it seems that more than one person is operating by the seat of their pants. American politics at its most outrageous.
Upside Down
How much was your vote worth in 2016. You probably already figured out, not much; if you voted, for Hillary Clinton. Hillary WON the popular vote by 2,865,075. Everyone knows that, right? Trump WON the Electoral College with 304 electoral votes. That’s old news, right? Looking behind those numbers we discover that: 112,155 votes, cast in three states (Michigan 13,104, Wisconsin 27,257, and Pennsylvania 71,794) turned my world, and maybe yours, upside down.
Electoral College Math
WHEN IS 112,155 EQUAL TO 2,865,075?They are equal if you are using Electoral College math. Every single one of those 112,155 “rust belt” votes, equaled 25.55 votes, cast elsewhere. In other words, 1 vote in Pennsylvania is equal to 25.55 votes in Oregon. In my opinion, absolute insanity.
A National Abomination
The Electoral College is an abomination. At its heart, I believe, it is a violation of “Due Process”. The continuation of such an instrument of injustice is inexcusable, and the Electoral College should be dismantled immediately. This 240 year-old election device, is inappropriate in 21st century America.
The Big Lie
The Big Lie: The Electoral College was an effort by our Founding Fathers to effectively balance the power of big states against that of the small rural states. In truth, it is just “double speak”, for a slave state compromise. It has never been about big state, versus little state, but rather a division between North and South. The story behind the Electoral College is all about compromise to the slave holders. That initial divide, has been further complicated in the last 75 years, by the division between the coasts, and the interior ‘fly over’ states, of our country.
Very, Very Dangerous
There have been 5 times in U.S. history when a presidential candidate was elected, despite losing the popular vote, in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016. In the two most recent cases, George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump in 2016, the Electoral College system conferred the presidency on the loser, a Republican. Twice in less than 20 years. Dangerous. Very, very, dangerous. This cannot continue. The Republicans are the minority. It is only by voter suppression, gerrymandering, and billionaire money that the Republicans are in control.
The Loser Can’t Be The Winner Again
PREDICTION: The citizens of this country will not tolerate another election that declares the loser, to be, the winner. We are seeing millions take to the street, in peaceful protest. My fear, is that if we continue to ignore the popular vote, the electorate will take to the streets in violent protest and anarchy and revolution could be the result.
Final Numbers
Here are the final numbers: Hillary Clinton: 65,844,954 Donald Trump: 62,979,879. Okay. Stop crying and stop cursing. Get busy. Get together with like thinking politically motivated people and make a plan. Start calling your legislators, do not sit silently on the sidelines. Write your legislator. Overwhelm the Congress with phone, fax, email and snail mail.
Find A Support Group
Join marches. Read competing political blogs, organize your agenda and know who is most vulnerable to your activities, and keep up the pressure. Importantly, find a supportive group and work together to get this runaway train back under control. The Dems and Democratic leaning Independents need your support.
You Must Walk The Walk
If you are a progressive, and hope for the repair of the ACA you need to make your voice heard. Under Trump the EPA is on life support and close to death. If you believe in protecting the planet, you must make your voice heard. If you believe in Pro-Choice and support Planned Parenthood, you need to make your voice heard. Or, you can start a political blog. Whichever, of these suggestions, you may choose to implement, please, NO VIOLENCE EVER, AT ANY TIME. There are more Progressives than Conservatives. We will overwhelm this administration with lawsuits and resistance at every turn. The progressives will prevail in 2018. We will defeat Trump in 2020.
Join the Resistance
