U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland known for his strong views, has recently stirred controversy by suggesting that the Electoral College system could lead to violence against lawmakers. During an interview at the Riggs Library in Washington D.C., Raskin argued that this old system, which decides U.S. presidential elections, is not just outdated but dangerous.
Raskin, who was deeply involved in the investigations following the January 6 Capitol incident, believes that the Electoral College gives too much power to a few states and can mislead the public about who actually won the election. He pointed out that on January 6, 2021, Congress was only following the 12th Amendment’s requirement to count Electoral College votes, even though the winner was already clear. This, he claims, gave former President Donald Trump the chance to encourage his supporters to protest, which led to chaos.
The congressman is pushing for a change to a simpler system where the president would be elected by whoever gets the most votes nationwide, similar to how other political positions are decided. He highlighted that in the 21st century, twice have presidents been elected without winning the popular vote, which he sees as unfair.
Raskin also touched on a controversial plan among some Democrats to challenge Trump’s potential victory in the upcoming election by using an old Civil War-era law to disqualify him from running. This law, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, was designed to prevent individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. from holding office.
He expressed concerns that this part of the Constitution is being ignored, which could lead to more political tension or even violence. Raskin’s comments reflect a deep worry about the stability of American democracy and the safety of its elected officials if the current system continues.
In essence, Raskin’s argument is for a more straightforward and democratic approach to electing the president, one that he believes would reduce the risk of political violence and ensure that every vote counts equally across the country. His statements have sparked a debate on whether the U.S. should stick with tradition or move towards a system that many argue would be more fair and reflective of the people’s will.
Here’s the problem though, changing it would do the exact opposite. Let me give you an example. If the states of California and New York voted Democrat voted for President Trump by a margin of approximately 75% to 25% for Trump, and the remaining states and territories voted for Trump by a margin of 54% to 46%, Kamala would win the popular vote by several million votes. So, with only two states voting for Kamala Harris and the other 48 states and the territories voting for Trump, she would win even though the majority of states don’t want that. THIS is why we have the electoral college.
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