The founding fathers had a distaste for partisanship. They wanted their elected representatives to vote on each issue on a combination of their own understanding and constituent desires. Votes based on partisanship needs (i.e. the need to band together for better electoral success) were, in the opinion of the founding fathers, less effective.
As we know, that social engineering experiment did not turn out as planned. Political parties did form very early on, thus negating the FF intentions.
The EC was actually a three-step tiered election:
- Citizens (rich, white guys at that time) voted for state legislators
2. State legislators (from amongst themselves) voted for the electors.
3. The electors would convene in Washington and that convention would result in a president.
At that time, it was thought the federal government would be minimalist government, with state governments doing most of the governing. The president’s position was regarded more as a caretaker than a shaper of society: someone who would uphold the law, not design it. Of course, things turned out differently.
I’ll just bring back this quote of Dale’s:
they didn’t believe the voters were capable of having the knowledge or wisdom to make the decision.
So, so, so true! This is one of the wiser directives the FF created. Let me explain.
I have served on many boards over the years. It takes me about six meetings to figure out where the other board members are coming from. For example, are they really interested in what I am saying or are they just being polite while trying to work their own agenda? I need exposure to find the intent.
We know so little about the names on the ballots — because most of us have never worked with them in any capacity. We have no idea how these people will regard their elected position. So we vote mostly on their party affiliation or advertising. And the parties have a rather poor track record of vetting candidates for good character and capacity for governance.
I believe that it was the FFs’ intentions to bring the electors together for the purpose of them getting to know each other, figure out the flaws and the talents, then decide which of them was most suitable for president.
Imagine an elector’s conventions, an event I think was designed to last for a week or two. For sure, some of these electors would have experience with this process and would already kind of know each other. New electors probably have some talent because of their legislature’s endorsements. If an elector shows up late and hung over, that would be signal not to vote for him as president. If another elector leaves meetings early and is seen at the red light district in Washington, that would be another signal that person should not be president. The electors would be watching each other and getting to know each other. They would be in better position to know who is more capable of being president than the average citizen.
But under the party system, far too many elected representatives can hide under the party banner and be elected.
The FF knew what they were doing in designing the EC. The people that came after them kind of wrecked it.
