Posted: 8/10/2004 6:04:56 PM EDT
| I need a picture of the "Red Map" from the 2000 election. |
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When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s republican states were shown as blue and democrat states as red. Those are the traditional colors - left wing parties use red. When the NYTimes brought back the practice they reversed it. I wonder why? Removed url - better one above. Mike |
No kidding. I don't think that RI has ever voted for a Republican candidate, IIRC. I believe they even voted against Reagan during his landslide. Combination of Union and religious affiliations, I suspect. |
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Well, I was living here then, and voted for him, but didn't recall that the state went that way. Thanks for the correction. My memory isn't what it used to be, I guess. You should be in my shoes now. This state is NUTS about Kerry, being Teddies best pal and all. I am a fish out of water! |
I feel for you. Thank god for 96.9 and Jay Severin and Laura Ingraham. |
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I recently got into a debate with a friend about the 200 election. He said he didnt think his vote really mattered. He began to get aggitated and quite pissed and brought up that Gore had more votes. He said it was all a sham because the eloctoral college actually pics the president. I tried to explain the electoral college to him not quite clearly understanding it myself and I thought about the red and blue states pic. Someone care to enlighten me on what to tell him next time? |
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Sure. We do not have a national election for President in the USA. We have 50 individual elections. One per state. When you vote for a candidate for Pres. you are really voting for an “elector” pledged to vote for your candidate. Win a state by one vote, or a million votes, you still have the same number of electors. That’s why it’s possible to win the national electoral vote and lose the popular vote. Each state has the same number of electors as it has House and Senate members. The electors cast their vote for President. Those are the votes that count. The winner is the candidate with the majority of electors. It’s in the Constitution. If someone disagrees with the system, then they should work to change the Constitution. It’s called an amendment. Mike edited for clarity |
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Also FYI: The purpose of the Electoral College is to give even the smallest states a say in electing the President. If a Popular Election were held in the US, the results would be determined by the highly populous parts of the East coast, West coast and the Chicago areas. The less populated states would have virtually no influence. THAT is the reason why the Electoral College is still a good system. Sadly, most Americans don't have clue what the EC is or why it was adopted by the Foundng Fathers. Enlighten those that are ignorant to these facts. CMOS |
Why does it matter if every state has a say in an election as long as every PERSON (who decides to vote) has one? |