America will soon be ruled by a minority

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Starting next month, the United States will have a minority government.

This assertion flies in the face of just about everything you have read, because the Republicans will control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. But the American system of representation, invented 229 years ago for 13 states that hugged the Atlantic shore, is more than ever out of tune with how the country’s citizens have distributed themselves, across now 50 states and between metropolitan areas and the countryside.

For the next two and probably four years, a majority of Americans will be governed by politicians largely elected by a minority of us. With the country already sharply divided, this is a problem that can no longer be politely ignored. Worse still, a government put in place by the peculiar workings of an outdated system is threatening to pursue quite radical policies destined to arouse considerable resistance from the disempowered majority.

The first problem is the electoral college. On only three occasions from the first presidential election in 1788 through 1996 did the loser of the popular vote become president. Two were unusual contests: 1824, when four candidates split the electoral votes; and 1876, when the returns from three Southern states were disputed, a special “Electoral Commission” was formed, and a deal was arranged to make Rutherford B. Hayes president. Benjamin Harrison’s election in 1888 was a more standard affair; his popular vote deficit to incumbent Grover Cleveland was modest, 89,293 votes (0.8 percent).

But the pace of anti-democratic outcomes is picking up. Since 2000, the loser of the popular vote has “won” two elections. George W. Bush became president in 2001 after losing the popular vote to Al Gore by 543,895. And this year came what ought to be — but, alas, won’t be — the result that should concentrate everyone’s attention on the dysfunction of our electoral rules. Hillary Clinton leads in the popular vote count by 2.7 million (2 percent), and her advantage is likely to grow. But Donald Trump is becoming our president.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/america-will-soon-be-ruled-by-a-minority/2016/12/07/fb1491ac-bcb7-11e6-ac85-094a21c44abc_story.html?utm_term=.171065c5e8f0&wpisrc=nl_rainbow&wpmm=1#comments

[pbmus]

1. Kkk has arrived

[RKP5637]

2. Sadly, the end result will likely be significant violence and civil discord. As this progresses

millions will have had it with the bullshit, especially if we are moving toward another war. Especially when the Trump supporters FINALLY realize they have been F'ed over as stupid losers for the Trump vote.

[yallerdawg]

3. This is a participatory democracy.

We can always rise up and scare the bejesus out of our representatives - at every level.

Let's see just how crazy they are.

[RKP5637]

4. OWS tried that, they were significantly suppressed by TPTB. n/t

[yallerdawg]

5. But who did OWS inspire?

And how did it influence subsequent candidates and platforms?

And will OWS be back when the Republicans try to gut Wall Street curbs and regulations?

Including Elizabeth Warren's baby?

[RKP5637]

8. I think something will eventually happen as millions are affected by the new regime. n/t

[Trust Buster]

6. Over the past 10 years, Republicans have won the vast majority of the Governorships, state

legislatures, the Senate, the House and now the White House. If the Republicans are the "minority", then they are the most successful "minority" that I have ever seen. I think the better explanation is that, we on the Left, miscalculated the pulse of America. Turns out, this is not the country we thought it was.

[Demsrule86]

10. gerrymander...

[former9thward]

13. The Senate and Governors can't be gerrymandered.

[Demsrule86]

17. The house is gerrymandered.

And I beg to differ about the governorships...they are affected by voter suppression. Look at Michigan and tell me the GOP didn't cheat.

[former9thward]

21. I only addressed your comment on gerrymandering.

Which is the only thing you said.

[uponit7771]

20. They can be voter suppressed though

[Coyotl]

11. Turns out, it is exactly what we thought and we actually won the vote.

65,527,625 versus 62,851,436 = a margin of 2.676 million.

[uponit7771]

19. +1, the national numbers were correct the numbers in voter suppression states weren't

[Binkie The Clown]

7. The United States really does need to be, and will probably soon become...

six or eight separate countries.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. Not so sure I'd put Idaho in Cascadia

Or eastern Washington for that matter.

[treestar]

18. How did the east coastal elite wind up with the midwest?

I think that one would be divided in two at Ohio.

[duffyduff]

22. California belongs with OR and WA. ID is as redneck as it gets. n/t

[Coyotl]

9. Sue.

[former9thward]

14. How do you define "minority"?

Either Clinton or Trump would have been a minority President. Both got a minority of votes of those who actually voted. Bill Clinton got a minority of votes of those who voted in both 92 and 96. Bush got a minority in 2000.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. Well I didn't write the article

But I believe the author was pointing out that Trump was not the one with the most votes. Hillary leads him by about 2.5 million at this point.

[ohheckyeah]

15. VA doesn't belong with the confederate states. It's gone blue in the last 3 elections.

Give us some credit for having changed.