Consider the sources we reviewed in class and information from at least two of the links posted below. Evaluate the effectiveness of the electoral college and respond to this week's framing question in a response of no less than 250 words. Your response may be posted, typed, written or developed into a visual project (poster or powerpoint).
Sources: www.realclearpolitics.com
www.270towin.com
www.cnn.com/election/2008
Note End of 1st MP deadlines: all work except for extra credit assignments must be submitted by Friday 10/3. Extra credits must be submitted by Tuesday, 10/6.
All the President's Men (Watergate Scandal)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (commentary on political corruption)
Charlie Wilson's War (media, scandal, role of US in the Kabul War between USSR and Afghanistan)
Sources: www.realclearpolitics.com
www.270towin.com
www.cnn.com/election/2008
Note End of 1st MP deadlines: all work except for extra credit assignments must be submitted by Friday 10/3. Extra credits must be submitted by Tuesday, 10/6.
Both Optional Extra Credits must be 350 words and may be a typed document, poster, powerpoint or other approved assessment.
- Extra credit option 1:
Summarize two issues discussed in last Friday's presidential debates. Evaluate McCain and Obama's positions and present your views on each topic. You may want to evaluate media bias in the presentation of the debate if you didn't view it in real time. Include citations of outside sources. - Extra Credit option 2:
Write a film review of one of the movies listed below. Include a plot synopsis, explanation of it's relevance to topics we've studied in class and an overall assessment of the film as both a piece of entertainment and an education tool.
All the President's Men (Watergate Scandal)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (commentary on political corruption)
Charlie Wilson's War (media, scandal, role of US in the Kabul War between USSR and Afghanistan)
4 comments:
America's voting privledges are what most foreigners wish they had.In the past the winners of presidential elections tend to be the canidate with the most popular votes. Popular votes are votes voted by the eveyday citizens of America. However, these days the winner of the presidential elections tend to be the man with the most electoral votes. Electoral college is a group of people with political science backround who directly elect the President and Vice-President. The electoral votes are what really decided who is president. This definitly does not represent a democracy. The electoral college was not made to represent the people, so how are the people's voice being herd. However, the electoral college usually follow the popular votes. For an example, in the election of Nixon and Kennedy. Kennedy recieved far more electoral votes than Nixon. However, on the popular side the votes were much closer.Kennedy received 49.72% of the popular vote, while Nixon received 49.55%. In this case the Electoral College went with the popular vote. Another benefit of the electoral college is that it gives more benefits to the third party canidates who would have a less chance to win the election. Also , the third party canidates will have less interfernce in the race between the two major parties. Yet with all of these benefits I do not think the Electoal College has the right to determine president, especially in the election of Al Gore vs. Bush. By a landslide Al Gore won the popular votes, yet he still lose the election. If we did not have an Electoral College, Al Gore would have become president like he was suppose to. Eliminating the electoral college would be more fairer and the voting proceess would definitly change. If the Electoral College were to be eliminated more people would vote and the campaining money would increase. Without the Electoral College, the canidates will have to worry less about indivisual sates or about the small states. In contrast, I think without an Electoral College, minorities will be ignored. Without the Electoral College the country will be runned by the majority .Still , with or without the Electoral College not every vote will matter. Overall, I think that the Electoral College represents a balance between the people and government. Im in decisive on wether it represents America's demorcracy or not. What do you think?
KHADIJAT:)
The electoral college comprimises the American democracy. A democracy is when the people have a say, and yes the American people have a say, but not with who the president is. In some way the people do have a vote, but they are just picking who makes it to the finals...it's like American Idol just backwards.
I don't think it's fair for the peoples vote not to count in the final say, what's the point of voting then? If popular vote only narrows down the list for the house, why don't they just pick from the larger list then?
But, on the other hand, at least we are still given the option to have a say in who makes the final cut and is considered by the electoral college. Maybe we should be greatful that we do have that say even if it is little voice in the big world of politics.
Ian Murphy
Government
Block G
There has been some debate as to whether electoral colleges ensure or compromise the democracy in our country. To start in a way that may or may not be related to the issue at hand, as a democracy, I do not believe there is any way to elect our leaders other than through the electoral colleges. A democracy is a system in which the people are offered the power to choose and affect their own government. The electoral college system reflects that: we, the voters, influence our government to create electing bodies for our presidents. But to these ends, electoral colleges neither ensure nor compromise American democracy; rather, it is the way that the statistics of the electoral colleges that, as an absolute in my perspective, compromises it. Each chart that displays these statistics is different from one another. Regarding the current presidential campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain, the site 270towin.com displays an interactive map that shows Obama with 243 votes and McCain with 163. The RCP Electoral Count, however, displays Obama with 17 more votes with McCain unchanged, while No Toss Up States changes drastically with Obama having 353 and McCain with 185; Obama would have won with this number, unless I have read the data incorrectly which, I must admit and don't even know why I'm posting this, I might be. But anyway, seeing how the statistics of the colleges appear to contradict each other, it is possible that a compromise will try to be reached in an attempt to preserve the democracy of our country.
When it comes to political debate, everyone has a different opinion as to whether the electoral college should or should not have the overall decision over popular vote. The Electoral college is a group of electors with a politically rounded education chosen to elect the President and Vice President. Many also accuse the electoral college as anti-democracy. A democracy is a system in which the people are offered the power to choose and affect their own government.
Our forefathers have battled for ages in order for us to have voting privileges. However, through the power of the electoral college, I believe, that privilege is overlooked. The voting process seems almost meaningless in states like New York who vote Democratic regardless.
Many, who are pro-electoral college, may argue that because the electoral college vote is entered AFTER the popular vote that it is in representation of the people and is a fair balance between people and government. Nevertheless, though, many weeks before the election the nation already knows which way the electoral college is leaning no matter ho w the people are. Typically, if a state has voted Democratic for all past elections, the electoral college will remain Democratic.
In the Al Gore vs. George W. Bush election, Al Gore received far more popular votes but, Bush won the electoral college vote awarding him the title “Mr. President.”
Thus, if a democracy takes on it’s true definition, the electoral college should be diminished and the popular vote should hold the power to elect once again.
Ann Morin Youssef
Block G
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