How Things Work

Ever since the election of 2016, the losers have gone out of their way to complain that the system is unfair. In fact, it is only unfair in that the leftist candidate lost.

Since actual history is no longer taught in schools, I will present a brief overview of How Things Work. I know, I see your eyes glazing already.  Stick with me, it will be quick and painless.

There are a couple of things you have to grasp to understand our government. First, the United States of America is exactly that -- a collection of independent states joined together in a union. The various States are not provinces, nor administrative districts like your townships or counties. The States are independent.  That is why there is a separate driver's license for Ohio, or Indiana, or Alabama and not a national license.  That is why California can implement its own fuel standards. The Feds regulate commerce among the States -- New York cannot slap a tariff on New Jersey grown tomatoes, for instance. For those of you who think this should not be so, then how would you feel about New York or Illinois being forced to adhere to Mississippi's educational standards or Texas gun laws?  That is what I thought.

Two, we are a representative government, not a democracy. Repeat that several times until you get it.  The founders recoiled at the very idea of a true democracy.

OK, to the meat of the issue. By design, the States elect the President, not the People. Thus the Electoral College. The majority of votes wins the States' electors, the electors then vote for the President according to population. The majority has its way, the minority has its say. The President is elected indirectly by popular vote as dictated by the population of the various states. I should note, each State determines the method for choosing electors. See point one above.

Now to address the recent cry of sore losers everywhere. They argue that some States are over-represented in our government and others are under-represented. They could be no more wrong.

The House of Representatives is apportioned according to population. that is why California has 53 members in the House while Alaska has but one. The Representatives are apportioned equally based upon population.

The Senate represents the States. Every State is equally represented by two Senators. This keeps the majority from imposing its will on the smaller States. No State is over-represented, they all have two votes. This is no bug, but rather a feature. The big, populous States carry weight in the House, things are equaled in the Senate.  This is not hard to understand, unless one chooses not to.

Failure of your candidate or party to win elections is not an indication things are "unfair" nor "broken". It is means the designed system of checks and balances has worked. The primary driver in the design of our government is to prevent tyranny. The three branches balance each other, the large states are balanced against the smaller states. it is pure genius.

As always, I welcome your rebuttal in the comments.