santa cruz wharf

18 September 2008

worth repeating and remembering....

You know we forget sometimes…
in all the talk about democracy

We forget it is NOT a democracy…
It’s a Republic.

People don’t make the decisions.

They choose the people who make the decisions.

Could they do a better job choosing?
Yea….but when you consider the alternatives…

Josiah Bartlett

who did you send to the college?
do you even know who casts your electoral vote?

12 comments:

Mel said...

Uh oh.

Great.
First in the box.

k....

Nope. I don't know 'who' I sent to college, or who's deciding whether they're gonna honour the popular vote.

I'll go to the clue-less corner now....

Anndi said...

The difference between the way you elect a government and the way we do in Canada are interesting.

Our elections are democratic but... the leader of our country is determined by which party has the most seats in the House of Commons.

We don't vote for who leads, we vote for who represents our "riding". I'm faced with a choice in less than a month and I'm torn.

Anonymous said...

I always thought the democratic part was that anyone was eligible to be elected into office. But, there are only two parties that do not represent the interests of everyone and now there is such a huge barrier to running for public office in the amount of money that is required to even enter the race that the idea of every farmer and shop owner taking their turn representing their neighbors has long since disappeared.

Hope all is well. C:)

Sandee said...

What Mel said honey. I'll be in the clueless corner too. Hangs head and exits Katherine's blog. :)

Anonymous said...

Despite the fact that I'm a resonably intelligent woman, I can not stay awake when attempting to study anything political. I'll take my dunce cap now.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I love the way you make us think....

But we do not select the electors...they are nominated by each states political party...then when we vote the number of electors is determined by the number of votes cast for each candidate...

That is how I remember it ...maybe I am wrong...

Anndi said...

Clarification following Bond's comment:

In most States, the political parties nominate slates of electors at State conventions or central committee meetings. Then the citizens of each State appoint the electors by popular vote in the state-wide general election. However, State laws on the appointment of electors may vary.

The individual citizen's vote is important to the outcome of each State election. Your vote helps decide which candidate receives your State's electoral votes.
Some, but not all States require that electors vote according to the popular vote.

48 out of the 50 States award electoral votes on a winner-takes-all basis.

Anndi said...

And no... I did not "wikipedia" that LOL

Marilyn said...

I have no clue... and I'm more disgusted with the republic all the time.

katherine. said...

Mel: I didn't know either....have some popcorn.

anndi: yeah...and then you have that Windsor group too....smile.

craig: I think we are approaching the end of the two party system. I wrote something months ago about the amount of money spent...I should repost some of that. (thanks)

sandee: It is where all the cool kids hang out.

kat: so good to see you round again. I had to read up on the whole gig.

Bond: it differs by state....both the selection of the voters...and how they must vote.

anndi: niiiiice. In addition to the 50 DC has three votes. The territories (puerto rico et cetera) don't partipate in the Electoral college...although they do send voting delegations to each of the primaries.

Electors in 24 states (almost half)have no legal requirement by their State Law to cast their vote for a specific candidate.

Travis Cody said...

I miss The West Wing.

And I think that it is important to remember that there is no electoral college for those we elect to represent us in the US Congress. Nor for our local mayors or state governors or state houses.

Those races are every bit as critical as the big one.

Cheers Kat!

Desert Songbird said...

I've threatened to write in "Josiah Barlet" as my write-in candidate on my ballot. Think that would work?