There is nothing more unhealthy for a Democracy than minority rule

[louis c]

OK, there may be an aberration along the way, but a consistent program and policy of nearly two decades of minority rule in the United States is very unhealthy for us. By minority, I mean that the person or group that gets the least amount of votes wins and controls the government policy.

In 2000, the Republicans won the Presidency, even though their candidate came in second, and with it, complete control of the executive branch and a large influence on the federal judiciary. In 2010, in a systematic program, the Republican gerrymandered Congressional seats, as well state legislatures. They put in place voter suppression laws and rules to further improve their chances by disenfranchising minorities and students.

As a result, they win an overwhelming majority of Congress, while either losing the total aggregate vote. The Republicans control all the levers of government, even though they lost the General election in 2016 by 3 million votes. The opposition, Democratic party has won the popular vote for the executive branch 4 out of the last 5 elections, and has little to show for it.

Historically speaking, this is very unhealthy for a Democracy.

[Irish_Dem]

1. One of the reasons we have become such a sick society. nt

[roamer65]

2. As Benjamin Franklin said to Ms Powel in 1787.

“A republic, if you can keep it.”

[Little Star]

3. Arguments Against the Electoral College

Those who object to the Electoral College system and favor a direct popular election of the president generally do so on four grounds: •the possibility of electing a minority president

•the risk of so-called "faithless" Electors,

•the possible role of the Electoral College in depressing voter turnout, and

•its failure to accurately reflect the national popular will.

https://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_procon.php

Personally I hate the Electoral College system!

[FarCenter]

4. Elections are always won by a minority of voting age adults

A large percentage are not registered to vote. A large percentage of registered voters don't vote in any given election.

The winner never represents a majority of voting age adults, except maybe, in a few uncontested races. In presidential races, never.

[louis c]

5. But when the side that comes in second wins, that is a little different

If we both run in an election and 25 people can vote, but only 12 show up, and I get 7 votes and you get 5, and you win, that's not healthy.

A democracy is always decided by "present and voting", other wise not showing up is A "NO" vote.

My point isn't that a majority of votes wins, it's that the most votes win. If people don't choose to vote, those votes don't count.

Please reread the OP. It mentions "second" for President and a larger portion of the aggregate vote for Congress. It kinda explains it, don't you think?

[FarCenter]

6. That's not how a representative democracy works

The presidential election is a form of representative democracy, where each state votes for electors to represent them. Due to how the number of electors is apportioned per state, the candidate with a greater plurality can be defeated by the other candidate.

None of the recent elections are as bad as Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton winning with 43% of the vote.

[louis c]

7. Please, Please, I know the history and the phylosophy

I know that in a Parliamentary system, the party with the second, or even the third most votes can form the executive branch. But, there are coalitions, and no part of that coalition is shut out. They get influence in the Government.

In each of your cases, Nixon and Clinton DID GET the most votes. You also left out Lincoln. Democracies can function on pluralities, but at least the most votes wins.

I'm saying that when a political party gets the most aggregate votes for the U.S. House of Representatives. The most votes, in the aggregate, for the U.S. Senate and the most votes for President of the United States, and that party is 100% shut out of the governing process, that is a recipe for disaster in any Democracy, anywhere.