We are following the 2016 US Presidential Election, and offering our opinions and statistics on the whole ordeal. Share this article with friends and have a conversation piece over drinks.
Our American governmental system is unprecedented, and hailed by some as potentially the best system developed for establishing true democracy. When the framers of our Constitution first established the 3 branches of government, each was designed to be a check on the other so that no branch would exercise power. Amendment procedures were established throughout the history of the United States, and voting rights were slowly given to persons of different color (15th Amendment), regardless of sex (19th Amendment), to those who couldn’t afford to pay the poll tax, which was also abolished (24th Amendment) and later to persons over the age of 18 (26th Amendment).
Interestingly enough, there is no set-in-stone way to decide for local candidates. Sure the Presidency is chosen by the Electoral College system-
Wait, do you mean that the President is not directly-elected by the citizens of the United States of America? In fact, YES THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN! Personally, I find it a little contrary to the whole idea of a democracy, but remember that if we allow too much democracy into our society there will be massive amounts of discrimination and what is best for the country will not be chosen on a regular, but instead individual basis. There is no conclusive evidence that says “yes, the President is chosen by the people." In theory, people voting for the President are actually trying to entice the Electors of a state (proportional to their delegation in Congress) to vote for their preferred candidate. Because America functions on a winner-take-all system, if one state’s votes are more inclined towards one candidate, all of the citizens' votes for the winning candidate go to be counted – the rest are NOT counted (i.e. discarded). This makes for a largely dramatic show in the general elections where poll numbers are constantly in clash with each other over which candidate will prevail.
Because this year’s election has been more polarized than the poles of a magnet, let’s exercise civic duty. This principle states that as American citizens it is in good faith and heart that you take to the polls this election season and vote for YOUR representatives of government: whether it be a local state representative or the resident of the White House. Both Democrats and Republicans are confused and gridlocked within the parties, but they are also gridlocked against each other which makes for conflicting interest and a misrepresentation of the true political theory that good government should serve all people. You also have 3rd party candidates creeping up from behind like the locally-popular Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party, but can they make an immense comeback to seize the presidency and improve the fate of America?
VOTERS! This is where you come in. Currently in Pierce County, WA we are having the biggest election in the history of Pierce County ever – it’s so big that the ballot is a massive double-sided sheet of paper (at least it was in the demonstration). In order to contribute to the American political system, act as the base unit of democracy and go to the polls to voice your opinions. In the event that the government does not adhere to the public’s desire, John Locke advocates for our right to institute a new government. After this coming election, who knows what could happen?
Keep it here and up to date with Election News!
