I'm sure the founders, envisioned electors as people who could prevent an irresponsible demagogue from taking office.
Most of the men who founded the United States feared unfettered majority rule. James Madison wrote in Federalist 10 that systems of government based upon “pure democracy … have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property.” John Adams wrote in 1814 that, “Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.”
Americans talk about democracy like it’s sacred. The people are supposed to rule.
The vast majority of Americans may desperately want their government to do something. If the Supreme Court can say no. The majority may then lose, but the minority is protected.
Framers afraid of the people choosing a demagogue. The electors, Hamilton believed, would prevent someone with “talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity” from becoming president. And they would combat “the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.” They would prevent America’s adversaries from meddling in its elections. The founders created the Electoral College, in other words, in part to prevent the election of someone like Donald Trump.
The Electoral College when it was set up in the Constitution was nothing like what we are seeing it do in modern times. It was intended that the people would vote for wise men who would then get to deliberate together and choose the most qualified person. Is there anyone, other than Donald Trump himself, who would think that such a group of wise men—and now women—would choose Trump as the most qualified? The Electors should be true to the intent of the Founding Fathers.
Before this election, I supported abolishing the Electoral College. Now I think America needs electors who, in times of national emergency, can prevent demagogues from taking power. Seems like we need to fix the Electoral College before we get someone worse than Trump!
Imagine for a moment what Mr. Trump and his followers would be saying and doing if he had won the popular vote . If Trump's base is the future of The United States we are doomed...