[Anonymouse]

Originally Posted by jem

"The Founding Fathers knew what they were doing.”

But did they? The US Founding Fathers were all white, middle class and, mostly, slave owners - and wanted to ensure that their successors would be the same. Hence the oddball ‘electoral college’ system - the membership of which was vague.

How about a general plebiscite? Everyone votes for whoever they wanted as President? Everyone’s vote is equal? But no, they actually didn't trust the people would vote the 'right way’ and came up with a setup to persevere the status quo.

Over the last two centuries the system has evolved to be ‘better’, more representative, but there are still issues. Al Gore won more votes that George Bush in 2000, but Bush, because of the way the system works, became President. And that’s fine, all legal and correct. But was it ‘right’?

All fair points. Oops. I meant they knew what they were doing in terms of limiting the President's power, putting checks and balances in place. Not enough, perhaps, but at least they tried.