Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

It is as far as this one's concerned.



No, not necessary, just (currently) Constitutionally mandated. Those are not the same thing.


Your options for getting rid of it are Congressional ratification with an overwhelming majority (LOL), a Constitutional convention (a horror too frightening to contemplate, given the people who would be involved), or guns. Which do you prefer?


I'm not suggesting getting rid of it, stop with the hysterics. I'm saying it's not a necessary feature of a democracy, as you suggested in your original post.

It is a highly idiosyncratic design decision in one democracy. It is not at all functionally necessary to America's system, and it's certainly not necessary to any other, as proven by its conspicuous absence from said democratic systems.

Five stupid people outvoting four dumb people is a natural outcome in every democratic system. One person outvoting two based on geographic location is not a natural outcome in every democratic system.

It's not that hard to understand if you take off your ideology blinkers for a moment and read the words in front of you.


It's not that hard to understand if you take off your ideology blinkers for a moment and read the words in front of you.

If you have a point to make, make it.


> the electoral college is not a necessary feature of a democracy.

You offered two traits of "democracy"

1. 5 low IQ voters outvote 4 high IQ votes

2. 1 voter in geography X can outvote 2 voters in geography Y

Trait 1 is a necessary feature of a democracy.

Trait 2 is not a necessary feature of a democracy.

You placing the two together in a list to describe "Democracy" is a category error.

Trait 2 is an idiosyncratic design feature of exactly one democracy, and it is not necessary to either this democracy in particular or to democracies in general.




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: