a growing "National Popular Vote" (NPV) movement wants state legislatures to instruct their electors to vote for the winner of the greatest number of popular votes in the national election -- regardless of the ballots cast by voters in their own states. Massachusetts (12 electoral votes) may enact an NPV law as early as next week. Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Hawaii (with a total of 50 electoral votes) have already signed on. It's being considered in North Carolina, Rhode Island and California.California? OK for now (although citizens are fleeing). But for the rest of the states on the list, the legislatures are voting to make their citizens' votes irrelevant. The idea is to prevent two or three of the most populous states from dictating to the rest of the country, thereby protecting the interests of small states (in fact, small states have a bit of an advantage under our system) and here the smallest states are voting to disenfranchise the people they represent on the basis of a tantrum over Al Gore's loss.
Homework: Read Federalist #68.
Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to the first honors in a single State; but it will require other talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union, or of so considerable a portion of it as would be necessary to make him a successful candidate for the distinguished office of President of the United States.We are determined it seems to surrender our sovereignty and put ourselves in the hands of demagogues. That is far more embarrassing than not being able to speak Spanish. Curtsy: Prof. K
