Electoral college fails

In a recent diatribe, Karl T. Kimball lambasted Democrats, socialists, and the news media as being antiConstitution and anti-liberty. Most of his scorn fell on John Brummett for suggesting that the electoral college is outdated and should be eliminated. I believe John Brummett was correct.

Our founders, in deciding on a compromise for electors to select the incoming president, feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power with a popular election by the people. However, their setup of the electoral college was flawed. The presidential elections of 1796 and 1800 revealed the problems, which resulted in Amendment 12 being ratified in 1804. This electoral college was established before the formation of a two-party system and the advent of either the party convention (1832) or presidential candidate (1940) choosing his own vice presidential running mate.

Kimball insinuates that he is a traditional Constitution lover. If he has ever read Article 2, Section 1 and Amendment 12 of the Constitution, he would know that the system established by our founders has morphed into something beyond their vision and produced their biggest fear without a popular election of the president.

Instead of denigrating people who do not agree with him, maybe he should be calling for the electoral college, as now used, to be ruled unconstitutional.

KENNETH R. WEBER

Belle Vista