The idea of ending the Electoral College has come up now and again in several publications, and all have offered many points for and against it.
One point has NOT been fully addressed: National Security.
Federalist #68: “Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue, and corruption. These most deadly adversaries of republican government might naturally have been expected to make their approaches from more than one quarter, but chiefly in the desire in foreign powers to gain an imposter ascendant in our councils. How could they better gratify this, than by raising a creature of their own to the chief magistracy of the Union?”
They knew prying eyes were watching, and even from WITHIN there would be those who would still favor ending independence, and could rally political support to that end.
The Framers of the Constitution envisioned a very real worst case scenario:
A candidate for President of the United States, backed by the wealth and power of a foreign adversary, could deceive a majority of the 13 States, and subjugate the Union.
Imagine the wealth and power of the King of England, expended in an election system with no real security measures to prevent an influence campaign within our major cities… and how to secure the integrity of the ballots themselves? Transport between countries took months, between States… weeks.
Between totals and recounts, distances traveled to report… on horseback, of course having a handful of Electors, decided within the States, by the States’ representatives would be more efficient and less prone to corruption. Electors, decided by Elected officials within the States, elected by the People.
Federalist #39: “It is SUFFICIENT for such a government that the persons administering it should be appointed, either directly or indirectly, by the people.”
At that time, they feared the level of wealth once possessed only by the heads of monarchies. There’s no way they could have imagined the massive amounts of wealth and power held by corporations and financial institutions of today. Nor could they have envisioned the ability to communicate and interact with people, in real time, at the speed of light.
Combine those facts with Social Media Marketing.
Candidates for office, running on contributions from DARK MONEY interests, propped up by those with the means to support a candidate, and also the party that candidate represents. ALL working to acquire DATA on voters, in every State, in every city. Working to make sure their ads are seen, and their candidate makes that trip to Sioux Falls next week, and where their OPINIONS should go… in order to “keep numbers UP”.
Every obstacle that has been erected to oppose “cabal, intrigue, and corruption” within our elections has served to create a barrier, a financial BURDEN to overcome for any candidate seeking office. Those with wealth decide who the rest of us should vote upon.
‘Red Sauce’ or ‘Blue Sauce’… “It’s your choice, we picked ’em both!”
Federalist #39: “It is ESSENTIAL to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion, or a favored class of it.”
The Framers tried, in GOOD FAITH, to prevent the situation we find ourselves in TODAY. They created the PATH that gave rise to the very thing they tried to PREVENT.
To read their words, and understand their fears and worries about what could happen IF, we must remember… NO ONE had done this before! It was all just theoretical ideals and beliefs, emblazoned on a piece of parchment. They had NO PROOF it would work, they had no DATA to draw upon.
Today, after more than 230 years, we have that DATA. We can see where the faults lie, and we can see where we must make AMENDS. Our strength and security is ensured when EVERY CITIZEN is guaranteed access to the ballot. Any system that LIMITS access or attempts to correct, distort, or interpret the WILL of the people, is inherently susceptible to corruption.
There is only ONE METHOD that will ensure our national security, and the continued success of our Constitution: ONE CITIZEN=ONE VOTE.
I have made my decision, and I STAND by it… come what may. When presented with a choice, I carefully weighed the options and made the decision that was required of me. As has been the case countless times throughout the history of this country, sparked by something deeper than many can understand. Once a vision of what can BE is seen… it cannot easily be dismissed. Especially when it can touch the lives of EVERY human being on Earth.
I do not like to phrase it as such, but it is the underlying truth- To ensure the PEOPLE have the power to elect the President DIRECTLY, without the CORRUPT INFLUENCE of DARK MONEY deciding who is on the ballot…
Is there ANY fight that would be more HONORABLE?
Is there ANY CAUSE I could fight for, that would NOT be resolved if elected officials were elected based on the WILL OF THE PEOPLE ALONE, and not their ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE?
… No. I cannot name ONE.
How we reach a conclusion, as individuals, as a nation, starts with a presentation of the FACTS. The gathering of those facts should be OPEN and FAIR, free of a pre-determination, so we are not researching to reinforce a BAD IDEA.
An OPEN and HONEST debate of the facts helps us to put to rest outdated dogmas in-light of NEW EVIDENCE. Sometimes bad ideas continue to live, long passed their expiration date, because they are not discussed. No one who debates in GOOD FAITH, searching for TRUTH, wants to be wrong. IF they are proven wrong, they will GLADLY change their position… but they must be SHOWN the error of their ways!
To change one’s opinion in-light of NEW EVIDENCE is not weakness, it is the STRENGTH of intelligence. It is the STRENGTH of knowledge wielded to lift ourselves up, to make a BETTER LIFE.
To see a better way and NOT pursue it… seems to me, to be a sin. Especially in-light of the hell we put ourselves through every FOUR YEARS! Scholars of history will be better equipped than I, to tell you of what happens to kingdoms who succumb to CORRUPTION. But the patterns and the methods are just the same… be it Ancient Rome, or modern D.C.
When Ted Kennedy was asked, “Why do you want to be president?”, the answer ended his campaign. As Joe Biden ‘hee’s and haw’s’ about ‘will he?’ or ‘won’t he?’… I’ve just passed my campaign’s ONE YEAR anniversary.
I know why I am running.
I seek the Presidency to ensure the POWER resides in the hands of THE PEOPLE. Let there be NO DOUBT, to NOT do my best would be a dishonor to myself, my family, and my country. I would rather lose with HONOR in the throes of rhetorical battle, than cower in the face of insurmountable odds. The fact that I have so little to sacrifice should not be seen as somehow less than a candidate of wealth and great success. Every bit of what I have upon this earth hangs in the balance, because THAT is all I have to give…
And it is because of this glorious nation, that I have anything to offer at all!
I will never ask anything of anyone I would not first ask of myself, and I see it as an HONOR to even have the CHANCE! It is “FOR THE PEOPLE”…
I believe the PEOPLE of the United States can face ANY challenge, overcome ANY obstacle, and help our friends and allies do the same… but only when we STAND united. The strength and resilience of the American People cannot be matched when we are TRUE to ourselves, and we believe the WORDS our Union was founded upon… because they are self-evident!
“For want of the price,
Of tea and a slice,
The old man died.”
— Us and Them, Pink Floyd
“… so let us stop talking falsely now,
The hour’s getting late.”
— All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan
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Worldwide Threat Assessment- Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, pg. 4
As Director Coats said, and I proudly echo here- The security of the United States is ensured when we stand firm in our celebration of the Rule of Law… Our Constitution, as warfare shifts away from “bodies and bullets” to “minds and machines”.
The future of our international engagement MUST be “… increasingly about values.”
Who do we want to BE in this world? What should our mission LOOK LIKE? As we consider our military strategy at the end of TWO DECADES at war, we must make some HARD decisions about who we are… at home. From State, to DoD and Justice, the BRAVE men and women who go out into the international community as representatives of our nation, do so because they believe so deeply in the ideals of Our Constitution, they would risk their LIVES to ensure it.
Our ideals encompass ALL who swear an oath or pledge allegiance to our flag, and would rather sacrifice everything than see it fall. Let the blood that has been shed, be our guide now… yes, the mission of the United States should be, in National Security and diplomatic foreign policy, firmly rooted in an arena increasingly about values.
Because in THAT arena we CANNOT lose. No nation on Earth can defeat us when we are TRUE TO OURSELVES… when we proudly wear the flag of our country and can truly HONOR the words written in our Laws.
OURS is a JUST CAUSE… so long as we walk a JUST PATH.
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Worldwide Threat Assesment, Dan Coats, DNI, pgs. 5-6
“… to disrupt or damage US civilian and military infrastructure during a crisis…”
Our reliance on technology is unavoidable and our dependence only grows each year. Our water treatment, our sewage processing, our electricity, even the gasoline we put in our cars, as well as the health care we depend on in an emergency… The vulnerability of our technological infrastructure touches every aspect of our lives.
BE PREPARED.
Immediate action should be taken to include modern technological security in every planned project, as well as updating existing systems to ensure a uniform level of protection is achieved. Regulation and oversight now will SAVE LIVES during a hurricane or a blizzard, at pivotal moments where we depend on these sevices the most. Our Government should be in the business of “Having The People’s Back”, prepared to provide support so we can be successful in ALL situations.
Our long term strategy must include REDUNDANCY. ALL of our existing, aging space based monitoring systems as well as future systems must have a prepared secondary replacement. Telecommunications, GPS, weather satellites, orbital solar observatories, and many more that we depend on everyday for shipping, manufacturing, food production… and cat videos. The cost of NOT being prepared for foreseeable failures due to natural events, errors, or attack, will outweigh any upfront investments made.
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Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pgs. 7 & 14
It will become increasingly clear, as we incorporate more technology into our lives, the future of our nation depends on a WELL EDUCATED ELECTORATE. (ASIDE: The VISION of the Framers of the Constitution… absolutely stunning! To consider what it is we are doing today, in a virtual reality with worldwide instant communications… and the BEST solutions for these 21st Century threats, were conceived in the 18th Century!)
“Penetrating the US national decision making process…” That is not limited to the IC or law makers. That decision making process starts in the home of EVERY American citizen. POCKETBOOK ISSUES. Higher gas prices lead to higher food costs. Less disposable income causes people to spend less. Less demand leads to less demand for workers… ALL causing a strain the average family, motivating people to SPEAK OUT, shaking stability. The story line manipulated time and time again by leaders who only want to hold on to power, or seek to ensure their financial security at the expense of the people they serve.
Today, our enemy has the ability to have a personal chat with all of us… and we may not even know it… while it’s happening! It must be the responsibility of each of us to secure our personal identity, BOTH online and in real life. The financial security of millions of citizens has been compromised over the course of the current administration, and it seems it will continue due to a lack of desire to hold corporations responsible for carelessness with our information. Social media platforms, credit rating entities, lending institutions and many more profit and play freely with our individual personal LIVES.
Inorder to secure our national way of life, each of us must LEARN what is necessary to secure our individual “digital identity”, and take active steps to secure our “digital legacy”. The Federal Government should play an active role, communicating and supporting citizens. To many, it is an alien way of thinking. To younger Americans, it is slowly becoming common knowledge, but only in a limited way. Access to knowledge and better education for ALL citizens helps to ensure our National Security and our Financial Security, as well as that of our friends and allies around the world.
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Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pg. 8
American values… taught to each and every one of us. That we should RESPECT the basic human rights of others. That, even though war causes unnecessary death, we should seek to minimize human suffering. And we were taught that we should follow THE rule… the rule we were all taught in kindergarten-
“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.”
When our country acts with integety, and adheres to the Rule of Law, at home AND abroad, we can STAND FIRM in defense of Justice with authority, and take comfort in the fact that the entire international community that we have stood by, for three quarters of a century, will stand with us.
Violations of long standing international law will be met with INTENSE and LASTING refusal of cooperation, from all democratic nations, to work with the offending country, until those responsible meet Justice. NOT AN INCH should be given, there should be NO DOUBT. Let us remember the atrocities of The Great War, the war to end all wars.
Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pg. 9
… all of the actions taken by our Commander-in-Chief have been to the benefit of Russia. We must return to a position of strength with the Kremlin.
That starts as soon as this administration is out of The White House.
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Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pgs. 10 & 12. [*note HEV= Homegrown Violent Extremist.]Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pg. 14Worldwide Threat Assessment, Dan Coats, DNI, pg. 20
… and there it is. “Slower economic growth…”, “supply disruption, upward pressure…”
Evil wins when men of good conscience are SILENT
… some of us saw this coming a long way off.
What should the mission of the United States BE in the world? A shifting climate is coming, in our atmosphere and in our way of envisioning governance. Opposing political philosophies considered BEFORE the drafting of Our Constitution must be re-evaluated in light of new evidence… WE STAND AS THE PROOF! Whatever the will of the American People be, when voiced in accordance with the Law at the ballot box, UNOPPOSED TO ALL CITIZENS, Justice will be realized. Opposing opinions will have CLARITY and poorly defined arguments will end. Knowledge and understanding leads to empathy and compassion… and eventually HEALING.
The National Security of the United States is assured when we STAND united.
The American People direct the course… after all, it is OUR SHIP. We sink or swim together.
These extreme weather events could cause, “Damage to communication, energy, and transportation infrastructure” as well as “low lying military bases” causing human displacement and loss of life, the report continues. These shifts will effect every nation on earth, our allies and our enemies. How we treat OTHERS today will be remembered TOMORROW, a burden placed upon a future generation… in remembrance of OUR ACTIONS. Nature is not our enemy. Nature is not our friend. We are part OF nature, and if we are not prepared for what we know CAN happen… then it is our fault if we fail. We must use the gifts we have been given.
Ronald Reagan once said in a speech delivered before the UN General Assembly, “I occasionally think, ‘How quickly our differences would vanish if we were facing an alien threat.'” Maybe he was referencing something, unlike anything this world has ever seen before. Metaphors and allegorical stories. Innuendo and whispers. Must consider, little pitchers have big ears…
What was Reagan going on about? Was he waxing poetically about beings from a distant galaxy? Or was he speaking from his heart, about a belief he could not fully articulate, due to the restrictions placed upon him because of National Security?
At THIS moment, in the course of natural events, when so much is at stake, the American People deserve a LEADER who understands the hardships working families face. NOT because I asked a group of people at a voter Q and A. Not because I will benefit monetarily… I AM an average working class father and husband. My family feels the political fallout everytime Congressional Leaders drop the ball. My children’s FUTURE is on the line when they bet money on stoking fear and division.
And I believe the American People deserve a seat at the table. Leadership, untainted by the lobbying and fundraising, beholden to the PEOPLE, not corporations and special interests. Because our National Security is increasingly about values.
REJOICE! Today is a good day. Today, Our Constitution STILL STANDS, our Rule of Law still reigns SUPREME! The balance conceived over 200 years ago still weathers the storms. Liberty still stands to fight another day!
Even as our enemy celebrates victory with a PUPPET in power! Truly, could you have imagined this, 20 years ago… 30 years ago? To pose such a theory would have turned the faces of generals white.
BUT THEY HAVE NOT WON! The fight STILL rages. Our Bill of Rights still ensures it! Yes, the enemy has positioned the battlefield within our operational space, within our system of governance itself. BUT… they failed to see the GENIUS of the system. The absolute universal balance. The careful consideration the Framers of the Constitution weighed their conception of governance upon.
The Framers were not simple people! They were wealthy, world travelers, and studied text from nations across the world. The study of systems of governance that failed thousands of years before, produced ANSWERS as to why and how. Finding answers to the questions raised by those failures, would need a Revolutionary approach. A system of self-rule, but acknowledging the nature of Man itself.
How to create a secular system of governance with a “religious/biblical” execution of Justice? It is a system with NO State religion. NO test or requirement of religious faith. But, BOY! If you look REAL CLOSE… maybe squint just a little…
This is no coincidence! Unfortunately, many religious zealots use this as evidence to support the idea that the Framers REALLY wanted this to be a Christian nation. Many of those same people fail to realize Jesus would have studied the religious texts of his time, and the text that came before those… some of which we might not even know existed! There are ancient religious texts that predate The Bible by thousands of years. ALL of them have wise teachings. ALL of them helped shape what would one day become the ACTIONS and teachings written about hundreds of years later. Both the good lessons, captured and saved, and the bad lessons, not recounted but remembered and used as guideposts in the future.
To learn, and create a BETTER WAY.
The Framers of OUR Constitution took this into consideration as they worked to create a new form of government. To ensure a UNIVERSAL sense of Justice. NOT simply a system of right and wrong, but a set of Laws in accordance with the Laws of Nature. A system in balance eternally.
And today, CELEBRATE IT!🎉 Because it IS official… “IT’S ALIVE!”🇺🇸
It is HERE, in our nation’s darkest hours, we can see the brilliance radiating out. STILL STANDING as a beacon to ALL who yearn to live FREE! Because we live within it, we have forgotten how BEAUTIFUL the light can be. Because we still stand, we know it is NOT our darkest day. Here, standing upon the precipice… if we dare stick out our neck, just a little… we can see how far down this hole we COULD fall.
Imagine an election, similar to 2016, but the roles REVERSED. If Hillary Clinton had won the election by Electoral College and Donald Trump had won the popular vote by MILLIONS.
… do you think Donald Trump would concede and go back to Land Developement?
Look at the publicly reported propaganda campaign launched on the American Electorate. If Donald Trump LOST the Electoral College vote but won the popular vote, he would have taken the whole thing to court. Some of the “irregularities” we know of now have been reported AFTER Inaguration Day.
ALL of the Presidential Election Laws that have NEVER been tried in a Court of Law stand NAKED to attack via a candidate who challenges the results of an election. The length of time to properly adjudicate these cases, as demonstrated in the 2000 election, could surpass the certification date. Worse yet, evidence could lead to a challenge in the middle of a sitting President’s term.
The Courts would decide.
The evidence presented might not compel ONE court to side with the candidate, but imagine on appeal… in a 5-4 Supreme Court decision. A SITTING PRESIDENT, removed from office. Replaced by a candidate INSTALLED by the Courts… The danger of untried, undefined Constitutional Law.
Hillary Clinton has every right to challenge the results of the 2016 election. Just looking at the de-classified account of events, imagine what is yet unknown… would she? Of course not. She is a PATRIOT, who SERVES this country with HONOR and would not want to see such a horrifying outcome.
Would Donald Trump? He LOSES the Electoral vote, disappears into his golden penthouse for SIX MONTHS, then emerges with a full beard, wearing a flannel shirt, preaching that we need to STOP GLOBAL WARMING… right.
The path has been walked. The trail has been made. It is not a question of IF… the path will be followed again. If it’s not already in the works, it will be someday. We ignore this FATAL FLAW at our own peril! It is the crack in the finish, the rust below the surface. The Classic piece of machinery DOOMED by a lack of desire to see it fixed, or a lack of knowledge, unaware there is still more work to be done. “If only we had known…”
We celebrate Our Constitution, not simply because it is ours. We celebrate Our Constitution because it is a document WORTHY of our CELEBRATION! We must upgrade the outdated firewall, the flawed security system called The Electoral College. History shows us the FLAWS… there is a BETTER WAY.
I have reached an impasse. I have a desire to learn and grow, to gather all the knowledge and knowledgeable people necessary to define the processes involved in creating Constitutional Law. And I have to gain the INSIGHT of communities across this Nation. Thankfully I live in Kansas City. The diversity of the Kansas City Metro is why I love living here, but I know there is more I MUST learn, and soon.
There is so much to do! And I don’t want to be the weakest link. I want to spend the next few months leaning about the weaknesses in my ideas. Flaws in the legislation. Points of importance that a skinny white kid from Kansas could not have learned. See… It’s a question I know I should be asking, but do not even know what to ask or to whom it should be addressed! But I KNOW I CAN and I know right now I should.
I need a campaign advisor. And unless they all DONATE their services, first I need funds.
I am still currently taking care of a family as I run my political campaign. I am raising two sons, taking care of housework, grocery shopping, school, et al… And my wife, Jessica, works as a Pediatric Critical Care Nurse. She works nights, so she sleeps during the day. Living with someone who works a night shift automatically shifts your own schedule, so my “hours of operation” revolve around her sleep schedule. We understand the risks involved in such an endeavor. But we also understand the LIMIT to how much risk we can take, for the sake of our children. The benifit for EVERYONE is why I risk anything at all right now.
We WILL find the answers, but ONLY if we try!
What do we want to do… This fall, when we decide the next Congress in November, we will have two months… Of waiting? Of fighting? Of treading water while children remain detained? Or two months of planning, and preparing, and understanding that DIVISION is the root of all this evil. Rage fueled with intent, hell bent on pitting brother against brother. Questioning EACH OTHER instead of THE LIAR. Allowing the dread and drudgery to bring us to our basest instincts- fear and anger.
NO! Do not do that! We MUST look higher than that! We’re on a mission! It’s a WAR ON OUR CONSTITUTION, being fought online and at our ballot box. It’s leaders giving citizens lip service while bowing to our ENEMIES. We have to SECURE OUR LIBERTY. I want to LEARN MORE so I can EDUCATE everyone, to explain EXACTLY what must be done!
… because we CAN! I have learned enough so far to know it’s true. I BELIEVE we can do it. I see the path from HERE to THERE… THAT is the first step!
Help me do it, please! I just ask for the chance to be in the fight, and let the PEOPLE decide.
End The Electoral College NOW!! 