The Native Iowan

Updating an old post here… https://nativeiowan.com/2012/12/18/the-us-of-as-electoral-system-for-dumbassesv1-0/

This morning I have been in a conversation with a good, smart, well read, old compadre. We were talking for about an hour yesterday. My dear old friend suffers severe Trump Derangement Syndrome. I fear it may be terminal with him.

Most of our conversation was a laundry list of complaints about “Fucking Trump”, “fucking idiots in Congress”, “fucking useless electoral system”, and more… on and on. A long and drawn out verbal diarrhea session where all the ills and all the wrongs and all that is bad and uncool is because of… Trump, fucking Trump, the fucking system, the fucking secretaries, the fucking system…

Of course there is little introspection, critical thought given to much that isn’t a slogan or a bumper sticker or a meme… I could almost hear the sad, loser liberal media in his words.

I very much enjoy conversations like this. I like listening to what folks think. I like trying to understand their angst. I often end up working as a therapist. There is so much anger and aggression and misinformation. I like being the centrist. Because I dont like Trump and I dont like the other side I dont have a position to defend. I can talk about his position, working to discuss and direct and research the foundational facts, required, aiming to help alleviate the misinformation and mental illness that is part and parcel of TDS…

Like the US Electoral College. My friend simply does not understand it. Historical or contextually.

According to my friend California should be allowed to decide who is in charge. They have the largest economy, the largest population, pay the most taxes in the US so…

He points to the system where Congressional districts are defined by population yet each state is only given 2 Senatorial seats. California should have 52 congressmen and 52 Senators. Wyoming should only get 1 of each. According to my friend.

I sent couple visuals to help our conversation…

From a blue v red perspective, from a DNC v RNC perspective, this shows the 2024 electoral college results. Without the electoral college the heavily populated, heavily liberal, very elite coastal states would forever control the highest offices.

Here we can see congressional districts and electoral college votes per state…

I like this visual because it shows us the changes afoot… six states lost population/ congressional seats. six states gained population/ congressional seats.

So I end up with my electoral system for dumbasses v2.0.

Without the forethoughtful and original thought process of the founding framers of the US system I believe the elite would rule us all.

And the day continues in its soft, cozy, comfortable manner.

Smiles all around

more later