Does the Voting System in the US Favor Republicans?

The debate on the fairness and effectiveness of the US voting system has been a topic of extensive discussion in political circles. The system, designed with certain historical and constitutional underpinnings, often sees Republicans gaining advantages in contemporary elections.

The Forgotten Design

The voting system in the US was not designed with modern democratic principles in mind. It was crafted to empower slave holders, and by extension, individuals with racist tendencies. This historical context explains why the system still shows favoritism towards certain political groups.

The Last Republican Majority

The last Republican president to secure more than half of the popular vote was George H.W. Bush in 1989. Since then, every Republican president has won the presidency through a combination of electoral college votes and a strategy emphasizing rural and smaller states. The electoral college actually favors states with fewer residents over densely populated urban areas.

State-Level Dynamics

California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Hawaii (all Democratic strongholds) are net losers in population growth compared to their Republican counterparts. Additionally, the per capita state debt is heaviest in traditionally blue states like the District of Columbia, New York, and California. Despite these challenges and the Republican advantage through the electoral college, the federal government continues to face significant financial challenges, including a debt of over $34 trillion and a yearly interest payment of $1 trillion.

Why Partisanship Matters

To truly understand the resilience of the US political system, one must take a step back from partisan biases. Our Founding Fathers and Mothers designed a system that was not perfect but still demonstrated brilliance. They understood the importance of checks and balances, which have indeed led to some flawed outcomes but have also prevented extreme moves like those by Mao, Stalin, Hitler, and others. These leaders, despite claiming to act in the best interests of their people, ultimately controlled their nations with an iron fist, rarely considering the long-term consequences.

A Product of Gerrymandering

The influence of the electoral college and the interest of politically powerful groups are further fueled by gerrymandering, the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular party or class. This ensures that Republican and Democratic candidates from safe districts can focus on competitive areas, increasing the efficiency of their political strategies. This is why Republicans today benefit from the advantages inherent in the system, regardless of their actions or policies.

Historical Assumptions

When the electoral college system was created, two primary assumptions were made by the framers. First, to gain support from small states, the number of electoral votes was increased by adding the number of US senators (two per state) to the number of representatives based on population, ensuring even smaller states had some influence. Second, it was believed that many voters lacked sufficient information to make an informed choice, leading to the use of electors who better represented the candidates in each state. This system, while inherently flawed, still provided a balance that favored certain regions and parties.

Contemporary Relevance

Today, Republicans leverage these constitutional advantages in small states where they are more popular, and these states often have lower populations. This political landscape has resulted in an electoral college that disproportionately favors them, despite the democratic principles underpinning the system. As the debate continues, understanding these historical and constitutional elements can help provide context and clarity to the ongoing discussion on the fairness of the US voting system.