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This week one of my conservative friends and I had an email exchange about “Trump’s Landslide” numbers. He and his peers are gloating over the geographic dominance by the GOP in the election, and the wisdom of the Electoral College devised by the founding fathers. Here’s the thread:
Fwd: Interesting Count Need to again be taught in all schools and colleges.
Interesting Count
This is an interesting piece for those that might not understand why we have the Electoral Collage. I for one would not want to have our elections controlled by such a small area. Our Founding Fathers were pretty smart people.
There are 3,141 counties in the United States.
Trump won 3,084 of them.
Clinton won 57.
There are 62 counties in New York State.
Trump won 46 of them.
Clinton won 16.
Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2 million votes.
In the 5 counties that encompass NYC, (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Richmond & Queens) Clinton received well over 2 million more votes than Trump. (Clinton only won 4 of these counties; Trump won Richmond)
Therefore these 5 counties alone, more than accounted for Clinton winning the popular vote of the entire country.
These 5 counties comprise 319 square miles.
The United States is comprised of 3,797,000 square miles.
When you have a country that encompasses almost 4 million square miles of territory, should the vote of those who inhabit a mere 319 square miles dictate the outcome of a national election?
Large, densely populated, welfare-dependent Democrat cities (NYC, Chicago, LA, etc.) don’t speak for the rest of our country.
Fred,
These are interesting numbers and they go to the heart of fundamental values of democracy. Is it one person, one vote? Or is it only those who occupy/own land that decide who governs? Should only those who produce stuff get to vote (makers vs. takers)? Consider this chart showing counties according to productivity (contribution to GDP):
Source: https://www.brookings.edu/ blog/the-avenue/2016/11/29/ another-clinton-trump-divide- high-output-america-vs-low- output-america/?utm_medium= social&utm_source=facebook& utm_campaign=metro
The electoral college is an attempt to protect the few from the many based on territorial ownership. But it does tend to give the haves and edge on the have-nots.
This century, I am convinced, we will be forced to grapple with property rights. Do we believe in oligarchy, democracy, community, equality, meritocracy, … and what basic rights to property does everyone have? The right to clean air, clean water, enough to eat, health care, education, honorable work, and more? What are our values?
— Richmond
to Fred
Hmmmm. I fact checked the numbers in the original email. Like most anonymous items of this sort it’s false news and it’s wrong. But it leads to an interesting discussion. Someone felt it was worthwhile to spread false information about Trump’s win being wide-sweeping. Were it actually true would deception be necessary?
Hi Richmond,
Always enjoy your comments, but don’t always agree.
If we did not have the electoral college the rurals would always loose the election to the city folks who have the greater numbers.
Should the electoral college be change[d] ??
Maybe, but I don’t give it much chance in the next two years with a republican majority in the senate.
We all knew the rules when the voting started, so it’s a little late to complain after the fact.
At the recent games the Cubs won over the Indians although they both scored 27 runs.
Based on that should the Indians be offered a last shot at the title ??
I have not heard the Indians complain, but I see the Democrats as sore losers.
Best to you and Marguerite………..Fred
to Fred
Most of us are resigned to the outcome, but I am all for making sure that the count was not faked. We know the Russians originated fake news, hacked DNC emails, and we know the GOP has had a long-term effort to suppress minority registration and voting. [see Rat F**ked] We know that Trump won with only 19% of the possible votes. So it was hardly a fair and free election. Most of the liberals I know are staying very active. We don’t think of government as a game where one team wins, the other loses and then everybody goes home. It’s about values like justice, equality, life, liberty and quiet enjoyment of hearth and home. Trump has not distinguished himself as an exemplar of any lofty values. He talks about some of them, but he hasn’t lived them.
Can he turn on a dime and become a visionary leader and champion of American Values? The loyal opposition will be in his face every time he returns to his grifting ways.
Our democracy is always at risk, and it’s always chaotic. If we want to keep it from devolving into autocracy, oligarchy, plutocracy, or anarchy all of us need to keep talking to each other and listening to each other.
God Save America! Love thy Neighbor (no exceptions.)
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