Trump won the most votes in the Electoral College but lost the popular vote by over 2 million. He has a split mandate but in the arcane way that the American president is chosen, popular vote is trumped by the Electoral College. This is what the 55 Wealthy White Men wanted, when they met in Philadelphia in 1777, in order to save their buysiness and investments.
They were, horrified by the effects of the Articles of Confederation, which gave the states the power over their laws and budgets and whose actions resulted in differing laws and most importantly, economic chaos. Everyone who spoke at the Convention ( with the exception of the 80 year old Franklin), railed about the " evils" and " dangers " of democracy, and they set about to thwart the will of the people.
They agreed to Compromises that limited the francvhise, only white, men of property would have the right to vote and " blacks" would be counted as 3/5 of a white for purposes of taxation( which pleased the North) and representation ( which pleased the South). No votes for poor whites ( even though tjey laid down their lives for the Revolution), no vote for women ( it would take almost 140 years to get it) and of course no votes for "natives" or for "blacks". They also adopted a written constitution with a rigid amending formula ( so difficult ( 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of the States), that only 29 amendments have been succssful out of hunreds proposed, for example the Equal Rights amendment was defeated, because 3/4 of the States did not ratify it), a Federal System and a Congress, with a House elected every 2 years and a Senate, for 6 years, but where 1/3 of members would be elected every 2 years. The President was given a veto, which could be overridden by 2/3 of Congress. This was all intended to ensure that cahnges, when they come, will be incremental ( maintaining the status quo, as much as possible). The House will be elected by Representation by Population ( pleased large states), but the Senate will be equally represented, with 2 senators from each state ( pleased the small states). It also pleased the populated North and the not so populated South.
The table was set to ensure that power did not descend to the people, even though there was a facade of the voting, but ensuring that the final decision was with the elitist Electoral College. The con, of course began with the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence " WE, THE PEOPLE", and "the rights to life, libert and the pursuit of happiness",which the "people" bought hook, line and sinker ( it was said that even the illiterates, and they were the majority, walked around with little pieces of paper with the words of the Declaration, even though they could not read it, they knew it.
So Trump won the Electoral College and was soundly beaten in the popular vote. Ther have been some talk of some delegates of the College going against their 'pledge", and voting against Trump, because of all the concerns around his alleged friendship with Russian President Putin and also because of his continous battle withthe Intelligence Agencies and various statements anout NATO, Trade Agreements, some of his Cabinet appoitments.
These appointments have raised grave concerns. His appointment of Rex Tillerson as Sect. of State ( he is the head of Exxon and has a very close relation with Putin and other members of the oil oligarchy and many think taht this is a danger); his chosing an anti-labour Sect. of Labour ( he opposes raising the minimum wage, has had many battles with unions and is known for using scantily clad women advertising his fast food); his appointment of Rick Perry as Sect. of Energy ( a dept. he said he wants to abolish (during 2011 presidential debate and could not even remember its name and a closely allied to the Oila nd Gas industry); his Sect. of Defence, Flynn, who was investigated for giving classified intelligence to foreign powers and was removed from the military; his choice of a climate change denier as head of the EPA; his choice of the head of NSA and the rest, like a pro- settler, hard liner Othodox Jew as the ambassador to Israel and his talk about moving the American embassy to Jerusalem.- Then there is the continuing issue of the roll of his children and their business entanglements and of course his business around the world ( he owes a lot of money to banks, like Deuschtebank ( $650 million), his refusal to disclose anything about them or his taxes.
America, through the Electoral College has chosen Trump and with it comes a great deal of problems. These will be interesting times and America and the world, awaits with bated breath for the swearing in, on Jan.20, 2017. Qu, sera, sera.
They were, horrified by the effects of the Articles of Confederation, which gave the states the power over their laws and budgets and whose actions resulted in differing laws and most importantly, economic chaos. Everyone who spoke at the Convention ( with the exception of the 80 year old Franklin), railed about the " evils" and " dangers " of democracy, and they set about to thwart the will of the people.
They agreed to Compromises that limited the francvhise, only white, men of property would have the right to vote and " blacks" would be counted as 3/5 of a white for purposes of taxation( which pleased the North) and representation ( which pleased the South). No votes for poor whites ( even though tjey laid down their lives for the Revolution), no vote for women ( it would take almost 140 years to get it) and of course no votes for "natives" or for "blacks". They also adopted a written constitution with a rigid amending formula ( so difficult ( 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of the States), that only 29 amendments have been succssful out of hunreds proposed, for example the Equal Rights amendment was defeated, because 3/4 of the States did not ratify it), a Federal System and a Congress, with a House elected every 2 years and a Senate, for 6 years, but where 1/3 of members would be elected every 2 years. The President was given a veto, which could be overridden by 2/3 of Congress. This was all intended to ensure that cahnges, when they come, will be incremental ( maintaining the status quo, as much as possible). The House will be elected by Representation by Population ( pleased large states), but the Senate will be equally represented, with 2 senators from each state ( pleased the small states). It also pleased the populated North and the not so populated South.
The table was set to ensure that power did not descend to the people, even though there was a facade of the voting, but ensuring that the final decision was with the elitist Electoral College. The con, of course began with the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence " WE, THE PEOPLE", and "the rights to life, libert and the pursuit of happiness",which the "people" bought hook, line and sinker ( it was said that even the illiterates, and they were the majority, walked around with little pieces of paper with the words of the Declaration, even though they could not read it, they knew it.
So Trump won the Electoral College and was soundly beaten in the popular vote. Ther have been some talk of some delegates of the College going against their 'pledge", and voting against Trump, because of all the concerns around his alleged friendship with Russian President Putin and also because of his continous battle withthe Intelligence Agencies and various statements anout NATO, Trade Agreements, some of his Cabinet appoitments.
These appointments have raised grave concerns. His appointment of Rex Tillerson as Sect. of State ( he is the head of Exxon and has a very close relation with Putin and other members of the oil oligarchy and many think taht this is a danger); his chosing an anti-labour Sect. of Labour ( he opposes raising the minimum wage, has had many battles with unions and is known for using scantily clad women advertising his fast food); his appointment of Rick Perry as Sect. of Energy ( a dept. he said he wants to abolish (during 2011 presidential debate and could not even remember its name and a closely allied to the Oila nd Gas industry); his Sect. of Defence, Flynn, who was investigated for giving classified intelligence to foreign powers and was removed from the military; his choice of a climate change denier as head of the EPA; his choice of the head of NSA and the rest, like a pro- settler, hard liner Othodox Jew as the ambassador to Israel and his talk about moving the American embassy to Jerusalem.- Then there is the continuing issue of the roll of his children and their business entanglements and of course his business around the world ( he owes a lot of money to banks, like Deuschtebank ( $650 million), his refusal to disclose anything about them or his taxes.
America, through the Electoral College has chosen Trump and with it comes a great deal of problems. These will be interesting times and America and the world, awaits with bated breath for the swearing in, on Jan.20, 2017. Qu, sera, sera.
