The Power of the States: My defense of the Electoral College

Many people associate a presidential election day with confusion, long lines and dangling chadds. Some experts claim that our most recent election ills are due to an old, outdated mode of electing our chief executive. The Founding Fathers were not only wise but prophetic in setting up the Electoral College. The Electoral College protects the representation of the smaller states while recognizing the importance and influence of the large ones. The Electoral College is not only relevant to today but is essential to our republic.
The founding fathers of our country were as wise as they were good. At the founding of our republic our fore-fathers knew that every individual had to be equally represented. If the authority was vested solely in a majority of votes who is there for the minority? After establishing this new chief executive called “president” how would he be elected? Was the power of our federal constitution vested in the large population centers or is it vested in the states? How could the big states be recognized without infringing on the rights of the small ones?
In his wisdom James Madison the father of our constitution found the ‘sweet spot‘.
Here is article 2 section 2 of our U.S. Constitution. “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled…” So the founders established a system where the each state is awarded a number of points based on the number of it’s representatives and senators. Each state would award all of it’s electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the state-wide popular vote. The number needed to win would be dependent on the number of representatives. This system rewarded the large states for their massive populations while protecting the representation of the small ones. A candidate would have to work for every electoral vote in every state.
Many critics point to recent election blunders such as we saw in 2000 as further evidence that we should do away with article 2 section 2. Moving to a popular vote would rip the power from the states and bestow it instead on the large population areas. Imagine if we changed our law and decided instead on a popular vote. What would happen to Rhode Island, Wyoming and Montana? Would they not become victims to the whims of the voters in California and New York? A popular vote would encourage special interest groups in bigger states to dictate policy for the smaller ones. Elections hold presidents accountable! Why would a president listen to a people who had no say in his election? Would a candidate for president care about the needs of Nebraska if He only needs the votes of the four biggest states? A.B.C. News policy analyst George Will wrote an article entitled “Defending the Electoral College” for A.B.C. News online. In it Mr. Will says the following; “Furthermore, choosing presidents by electoral votes is an incentive for candidates to wage truly national campaigns, building majorities that are geographically as well as ideologically broad. Consider: Were it not for electoral votes allocated winner-take-all, would candidates campaign in, say, West Virginia?”.
Other critics complain that a candidate could receive the popular vote while losing the more important electoral vote. In truth this only happened four times in our history and two of those example are ‘iffy’ at best. In 1924 Andrew Jackson had 38,149 more votes than John Quincy Adams but the contest remained deadlocked so the House of Representatives elected Adams (but not to worry Jackson fans he would beat Adams for the presidency in 1828). In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes fought bitterly for weeks with Samuel Tilden over 20 electoral votes both sides claimed belonged to their candidate. Hayes would eventually be awarded the prize. The 1888 election involved massive fraud involving 90,000 votes. In 2000 President George W. Bush lost the popular vote to former Vice President Al Gore but even that is debated by some who disapprove of how those allusive absentee ballots were finally counted. Contrary to current belief there has never been a huge ‘chasm’ between popular vote winners and those who won the electoral college.

Many would say that voters are disenfranchised under the current system. What would happen to the Mid-western farmer if we moved to a national popular vote? Wouldn’t he be disenfranchised?
The Electoral College is the best system for our form of government. It recognizes the value of every individual by representing his state regardless of it’s size.



Further Reading: A.B.C. News online (abcnews.go.com) George Will’s article “George Will Defends the Electoral College” written Nov. 2nd
Article 2 Section2 of the U.S. Constitution
“This Nation (an online site about politics and culture) found @http://www.thisnation.com//ThisNation.com is researched and written by Jonathan Mott, Ph.D.
Online encyclopedia Wikepedia. Found @en.wikipedia.org

My Open Letter To Governor Perry

Governor Perry In the recent Primary I voted for you believing that you were the most likely of the three Republican candidates to stand up for our Texas on the basis of the 10th ammendment to U.S. Constitution against a healthcare takeover. Today Governor Perry you said the following; "There are things in that bill that are probably good, but the bad outweighs the good by a substantial margin." In all honesty sir I found your statement to be somewhat disheartening for those of us that love Liberty above all else! Mr. Governor from the time of Christ have not all Tyrants thrown the peasents something 'good' amidst deception and despotism?

In 1776 a small band of brothers declared their Independence from a king who considered them a collective too stupid to govern themselves. In reading Mr. Jefferson's list of the king's grievances I discovered that many of the founder's complaints were strikingly similiar to our complaints of President Obama. Today Mr. Jefferson's words ring true; "He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance...Imposing Taxes on us without our Consent..." Mr. Governor, I like every other Texan with whom I speak am tired of 'measured respnses'. The 'measured response' is the answer for the summertime patriot.

Thank you for listening;
Sincerely,
Chad Hague of
Flint Texas

A Holocaust Celebrated

This week one of the country's foremost icon's of economic freedom sucker punched lady liberty. The Empire State building was lit up red and yellow to celebrate 60 years of chinese communism.

On October 1st, 1949 Mao Zedong defeated the U.S. supported Chiang Kai-shek and established The Peoples republic of China. During his life Mao Zedong was resoponsible for the deaths of 50,000,000 innocents (hitler killed upwards of 12 million, Stalin murdered around 60 million). Mao set a legacy of genocide, tyranny and fear which is contiued today with forced abortions, religious assault and the stealing of private property.

On Wednesday of this week New York decided to honor this legacy of blood when the Empire State building shone with the colors of the chinese flag. When the lights were lit Mr. Joseph Bellina the building's manger said that this represented a proud relationship between 'our countries and our people'. The people's republic established by 'monster Mao' is clearly not a republic and it is certainly not the people's. My favorite linguist Mr. Noah Webster defines a republic as 'A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people.'

The decision was made by the Empire State Building (ESB) Lighting Partners but where was Mayor Bloomberg? Imagine the outrage fom the Mayor's office if the E.S.B. Lighting Partners chose lights in the shape of a Swastika.

Live Free or Die

While the health care debate rages on into it's fifth month a challenge presents itself to those who claim to be conservative.

As a pro-life conservative I have become increasingly annoyed with christian conservatives who embrace the sanctity of life but are indifferent to all other issues. As if children have nothing better to do but exist. So once the children are born is it acceptable to subject them to a life of involuntary servitude to an all powerful state? If the 'health care takeover bill' did not include universal access to abortion (which it most certainly does), the bill would still be unacceptable.

I can hear 'God-fearing conservatives' discussing a candidate; "He's for redistribution of wealth, well I really don't mind much because those folks don't need that much money! Is he pro life?" A politician in favor of stealing from one individual and giving to another is not worth supporting regardless of where he stands on abortion. Taxation without representation is stealing and should be treated as a cultural issue just as preserving the life of the unborn.

Yes we should still fight passionately on behalf of the unborn but let us not forget that a life lived in slavery is hardly worth living. Here are some words from Patrick Henry;

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

Baseball Summer

This time of year the days get shorter, youngsters everywhere head back to school, and the boys of summer bid adeau' as we welcome the lads back to the gridiron. Before we throw ourselves into football focus, here's a few words about baseball. Yes I know the Pennant races are heating up and there's a healthy chunk of baseball left to be played but once that pig-skin is kicked off everything in the wide world of sports falls under it's shadow.

As it stands now the Texas Rangers trail in the A.L. West by 5 games to the Angels, while slugging it out with Bean town's Red Sox for the Wild Card race. I sometimes query first baseman Hank Blalock (he sits on my bookshelf) on just how far he thinks the Rangers might go this year. He hasn't yet given me an answer. Is he angry that he can't find his bat? Does he think the question is rhetorical? Perhaps he is envious that the younger Chris Davis is back playing first base again. Well regardless Of this years' outcome one cannot deny the roller-coaster thrills of the diamond. Whether it's young Mr. Holland throwing a two hitter in over 8 innings and striking out 10 batters, watching little leaguers scrap with each other for fouls balls during a Roughriders' outing, or waiting out an Arlington monsoon with 40,000 of your closest friends, this is undeniably summer's greatest pastime.

So as Baseball closes up shop for yet another season, I must acknowledge just a few. Take a bow you stadium vendors for showing restraint when I asked if the Ian Kinsler jerseys come with dirt. I tip my hat to you Blue Dot; I always bet on you even though I was told otherwise. Take a curtsy ladies if you attend the ball game without donning your high-heels. Oh- and Hank before I start my fantansy football draft, I promise to move the book shelf and retrieve your bat!

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/
http://ridersbaseball.com/

Wild West Fears

This week the Texas Senate passed a resolution that would allow college students to carry concealed handguns on their respective campuses. The usual suspects such as the Austin American Statesmen are expressing concern (not surprisingly).

Driving around in any Texas town one is likely to see some small sedan with a sticker declaring "Keep Austin Weird". The same car probably includes other decals such as "Free Tibet", "Change We Can Believe In", and the one word "Che". Or perhaps one visits a northeastern city striking up a conversation with a long haired hippy who upon being told that you are from Texas, responds "You mean like, Austin?"

Sen. Jeff Wentworth R-San Antonio, the author of the bill said the following referring to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre; "I would feel personally guilty if I woke up some morning and something like this had occurred in Texas. They were picked off like sitting ducks ... in Virginia. It does happen very rarely, but when it does, it is catastrophic." Every time a bill is passed reinforcing a peoples commitment to the 2nd amendment the folks down in Austin have the same predictable response. The Austin American Statesman showed their arrogance; "Do we need more legally armed but not professionally trained people wielding concealed weapons in public places?" They leave out the fact that these students would already have to have a conceal and carry permit. The permit itself makes an individual a 'professional' in the area of hand gun responsibility. One can already envision the leftist mantra put to a chant:

"Tight jeans and eye-liner,

Make our boys pretty!

But don't turn our schools,

Into Dodge City!"

The Bill sits in the House and it's future is uncertain. If it makes it to the Governor's desk he will likely sign it. If the the bill passes and becomes law it will not only be a victory for advocates of the second amendment but also for all those who embrace the ability of the individual to govern himself.
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/05/23/0523guns_edit.html

Antidote to Spring Showers

With the arrival of spring we can expect soggy weather. In many regions around the country the showers linger well into May. Perhaps the promise of a warm summer has failed to cheer your dampened spirits stuck inside on a Saturday, and if the constant dripping doesn't kill you, the pure boredom just might. More likely though one might suppose that you are tired of giving an online, minute by minute update of your personal day timer and you finally come to your senses; "Why should I care that Johnny is enjoying a latte'?"

Through a rain soaked weekend consider a Dororthy Sayers mystery novel as an antidote. All Ms. Sayers' mysteries starr her chief sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. Lord Wimsey is an amateur detective but working independently always seems to be one step ahead of Scotland Yard. Mr. Wimsey is much more 'earthy' and relatable than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Dorothy Sayers wit knows no bounds in her novel "Murder Must Advertise". In the story his Lordship Wimsey takes on an alias and lands a job with a London advertising agency on the heels of a mysterious death. Peter Wimsey becomes taken with his new 'job' and is even at times reluctant to put it aside to crack the case; "He sought out the gentleman (Wimsey), who was, for once, in his own room , singing soup slogans to himself.

'A meal begun with Blagg's Tomato

Softens every body's heart-oh!

Hubbies Hold those wives most dear

Who offer them Blagg's Turtle Clear.

Fit for an Alderman-serve it up quick-

Rum-ti-dy, tum-ti-dy, Blagg's Turtle Thick.'

"Rum-ti-dy, Tum-ti-dy,' said Mr. Bredon (Wimsey). 'Hullo, Tallboy, what's the matter? Don't say Nutrax has developed any more innuendos.'

The story twists and turns through drug dens, company cricket matches, and a series of murders, but never loses it charming humor. "Murder Must Advertise" is not only recommended for those who are mystery buffs but to anyone who loves good literature.

Ms. Dorothy Sayers was born in 1893 and passed on in 1957. She was one of the first women to be awarded a degree from Oxford. She was a noted Christian author and theologian, but is most remembered for her mystery novels. She wrote her first mystery novel in 1923.

Another of Dorothy Sayers' great works is "Gaudy Night". In the novel we are introduced to Ms. Harriet Vane who is a mystery writer attending her college reunion. While attending Ms. Vane receives a threatening note. She is hesitant to reveal the note to anyone until many more are discovered. She begins an investigation but soon finds herself too overwhelmed and appeals to Lord Peter for assistance. At this point the nature of Wimsey's association with Ms. Vane is alluded to, but not until later is it revealed in full. A fun packed thriller, "Gaudy Night" shows a great battle of wits between Wimsey and Vane while revealing the darker parts of the human condition. Unlike many dime store mystery novels written today one really does grow to admire the characters.

Governor Perry, Colonel Travis and Bick Benedict

Leading up to the I.R.S. holy day of April 15th it appears that Texas may have actually found her Patrick Henry.

In a speech yesterday Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) re-asserted Texas rights under the 10th amendment of the U.S. constitution which states "The power not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." The Governor boldly stated "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, D.C. trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas." The governor went further "I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state." Not unlike Col. Travis at the Alamo, Gov. Perry has drawn a line in the sand. Liberty and Independence is alive and well down here in the republic.

In the novel "Giant" (written by Edna Ferber in 1952 made famous by the motion picture with the same title starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson), lead character Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) expresses the same view as Gov. Perry; "If it's freedom you want, come to Texas. No one there tells you what to do and how you have to do it."

Texas has once again poked a much needed finger in the eye of an oppressive federal government. Indeed north easterners and left coasters are probably 'tisking' while rolling their eyes and muttering to themselves "There they go again!"

Down here Texans love their individuality. Here The Lone Star flag is revered as much and in many cases more than the flag of the union. Values are embraced here which are scoffed at elsewhere. On Sundays businesses still close, waitresses still call you 'honey' and no one ever orders a steak 'well done'.

Gov. Rick Perry's actions of the last few days have brought another famous Texan to mind. In 1833 as a congressman from Tennessee, David Crockett opposed President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act with the following statement; "I bark at no man's bid. I will never come and go, and fetch and carry, at the whistle of the great man in the White House no matter who he is."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=blgUvlqLOmE

Where's our Daniel Hannan?

A couple of weeks ago, Daniel Hannan M.E.P. (Member of European Parliament for southeast England) slammed P.M. Gordon Brown and the Labor Party 'goons' for tanking the British economy. Mr. Hannan's comments were enough to make any patriot cheer. But between the 'atta boys', and the 'Hip Hip Hoorays!' one can't help asking; Where is our Mr. Hannan?

Outside of talk radio and the 'new media' no one has had the courage to stand against the 'bailout' orgy that's enslaving our culture. Are there any politicians willing to be statesmen? Is there an individual willing to stand on the rights of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of property' regardless of the next election? This week Alabama congressman Spencer Bachus stated that 17 of his colleagues are in fact socialists. Mr. Bachus stopped short of naming them. Now it's a fair bet that if you are still reading this that you could identify to whom the congressman was referring. If only he had shown a little more courage.

The answer is in the hearts and minds of the people. So turn off 'American Idol', and go join a tea party!

Rediscovering Patrick

As winter ends and March begins to slip into the rear view mirror, let's take a look back (albeit belated) at the hero of the month.

To many people March 17th means little more than clover, Irish crosses, and Guinness. On this day very few actually stop to consider the influence and contributions made by St. Patrick.

Author/historian J.B. Bury tackles the saint in his 1905 biography "Ireland's Saint-The Essential Biography of St. Patrick". Mr. Bury who was formerly professor of Modern History at Cambridge walks us not only through the life of Patrick from his birth through his captivity, and his ultimate conversion, but also gives us a "mind blowing" look at Ireland both before and after the Patrick's life. As professor Bury states; "To understand the conversion of Ireland, we must take it first as an episode in the history of Europe, glancing first at the general conditions of the early propagation of the christian idea."


Patrick was born to a Briton deacon in or around 389 a.d. . He was taught the scriptures but not until much later did he embrace them. At the age of 17 a group of Irish raiders landed, plundering menservants, maidservants, and of course Patrick. He was taken to Ireland and forced into slavery and it was at this time that he turned his eyes to the Lord. We pick up here with professor Bury; "He had never given much thought to his religion, but now that he was a thrall among strangers, 'the Lord' Patrick says 'opened the sense of my unbelief.' The ardor of religious emotion, the 'love and fear of God,' so fully consumed his soul that in a single day or night he would offer a hundred prayers. And he describes himself, in woodland or on mountainsides, rising form his bed before dawn and going out to pray in hail, rain, or snow."


Patrick continued to fasting and praying through his captivity when on a certain night he heard a voice telling him that his ship was waiting on the coast, and that liberty was at hand. He then made his way to the sea ( Mr. Bury conjectures that he probably went 180 miles to the port town of Wicklow). It was here that he gained passage on a ship and eventually found himself on the Lerins Island on France's southern coast. On Lerins Patrick joined the monastery. Among the Monks of Lerins Patrick had his first exposure to Monastic living. He stayed among the monks for several years before returning to England.

Mr. Bury explains "Then Patrick returned to his old home, his kin welcomed him 'as a son.' In using the expression 'as a son', Patrick shows that parents was intended to mean kinsfolk, not parents, because it is most likely that his parents were dead by this time. They implored him to stay and never leave them again. But if he had any thought of yielding to their persuasions it was dismissed when he became aware all at once, that the aim of his life was determined. The idea of laboring among the heathen, which may have been gradually though quite unconsciously gathering force and secretly winning possession of his brain..."

As Mr. Bury points out, the seeds of Irish Christendom had already been planted before Patrick landed on the shores. But Patrick with tenacity, and a vision changed the hearts of his people.


Mr. Bury's biography is imperative for those who want to understand Ireland's entry into the christian (and dare I say 'modern') world. the Professor lays out a fascinating view of the social and religious climates both before and after Patrick's reformation.


Professor Bury passed on in 1927 and much more of St. Patrick's life has since been uncovered. In the latest printing from 'Parclete Press' noted author and editor Jon M. Sweeney has added some footnotes and made some minor grammatical changes which he explains in the introduction. This book is paramount not only for those who are eager to understand one of the least understood reformers of all time, but also for those who want to see the fulfillment of a vision.