Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - A revision to the electoral college system?

madp · 01-03-2004, 08:39 AM

Exactly. Local elections don't need the EC because they are local. And, as the saying goes, "all politics are local." State and community issues do not diverge to the degree that national issues do.

Take tariffs, for example. The recent protectionist steel tariffs were great. . .if you are in the steel industry in Pennsylvania. But they were bad for our economy as a whole because the tariffs meant that consumer products containing steel had to use more expensive domestic steel in the manufacturing process, and they price for these products was driven up to prop up the steel industry. Also, port cities (like mine) felt the pinch because there were fewer jobs and hours for dock workers because the tariffs drastically cut down on the amount of steel being imported, and steel has historically made up a large proportion of imports into the Port of New Orleans. It's only through an EC-type system that my poor little city of New Orleans can even get the President's ear to plead our case as to how the steel tariffs are shredding our local economy and emptying our state coffers.

Anyway, filtherton, you make a reasonable point. I'm not religiously devoted to the EC, but I have some serious misgivings (fears) about changing the current system. Your observations raise legitimate questions, though.

01-03-2004, 08:39 AM	#30 (permalink)
madp Insane Location: New Orleans/Chicago	Exactly. Local elections don't need the EC because they are local. And, as the saying goes, "all politics are local." State and community issues do not diverge to the degree that national issues do. Take tariffs, for example. The recent protectionist steel tariffs were great. . .if you are in the steel industry in Pennsylvania. But they were bad for our economy as a whole because the tariffs meant that consumer products containing steel had to use more expensive domestic steel in the manufacturing process, and they price for these products was driven up to prop up the steel industry. Also, port cities (like mine) felt the pinch because there were fewer jobs and hours for dock workers because the tariffs drastically cut down on the amount of steel being imported, and steel has historically made up a large proportion of imports into the Port of New Orleans. It's only through an EC-type system that my poor little city of New Orleans can even get the President's ear to plead our case as to how the steel tariffs are shredding our local economy and emptying our state coffers. Anyway, filtherton, you make a reasonable point. I'm not religiously devoted to the EC, but I have some serious misgivings (fears) about changing the current system. Your observations raise legitimate questions, though. __________________ why are you wearing that stupid man suit? Last edited by madp; 01-03-2004 at 08:45 AM..