Focus Point – The Electoral College

I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. In the 1960 World Series, New York outhit Pittsburgh 91 to 60, and outscored them 55 to 27. But Pittsburgh was the World Champion because it won four games to three. Now, imagine how different baseball would be if the series was decided by the most runs scored, or the most base hits.

Yet this is, in effect, what Hillary Clinton proposes in replacing the electoral college with a direct popular vote.

America's based on the idea of Federalism and separation of powers, not simple majority rule. It's why the Senate and House represent states differently, why the legislative branch enacts laws, but the executive branch approves them. It's why we don't elect supreme court justices. Federalism protects smaller states from being engulfed by the larger ones and gives them a national policy voice.

If Mrs. Clinton is serious about pure democracy, who needs the senate, which is clearly an 18th-century anachonism designed to balance power among the states? But we do need it, and we need the electoral college, too.

Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont. Next time, messing with the private sector.