The Critical Failure of the Electoral College

The Electoral College was created to be a buffer between the general voting population and the selection of a President. The founding fathers wanted the government to be selected by the people, but they were afraid direct election to the Presidency might someday be a problem. They feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power. Hamilton wrote about the role of the Electoral College in the Federalist Papers as follows:

It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations. It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. This evil was not least to be dreaded in the election of a magistrate, who was to have so important an agency in the administration of the government as the President of the United States. But the precautions which have been so happily concerted in the system under consideration, promise an effectual security against this mischief. Alexander Hamilton Federalist Papers

The founders believed that the Electoral College would insure that only a qualified person becomes President. They feared that some one might be able to manipulate the citizen voters. They did not trust the population to make the right choice, and believed the Electoral College was less likely to be manipulated by foreign governments or charismatic con men.

In 2016, this stated mission for the Electoral College is called to task with the election of Donald Trump for the office of President.  The Trump campaign was based on an unprecedented collection of rancorous, dishonest, and even lascivious discourse that was considered by most to be disrespectful to the office of the Presidency.  In parallel with this unprecedented campaign rhetoric, a foreign government appears to have injected information stolen from private and personal communications networks into the electoral process that was favorable to the Trump campaign.

Trump's win is further clouded by fact that Trump did not actually win the popular vote.  He received approximately 2.5 million (i.e. ~2% of the total electorate) fewer votes than Clinton.  The irony here is that he won the Presidency by virtue of the other reason the Electoral College was created which was to give extra power in the Presidential election to the smaller (i.e. less populated) states.  His substantial loss in the popular vote was eclipsed by this intentional slant to a commanding lead in the Electoral College.

Even after his election victory, Trump has continued to show no aptitude for the office with a rogues gallery of Cabinet appointees, breaches of decades old protocol (e.g. contact with Taiwan President), and his continued childish use of the electronic communication tool, Twitter, to engage in casual banter with his supporters and more importantly his perceived enemies.  He appears to have not interest in intelligence briefs and fully intends to bully his way into and through his Presidency.

The time has come for the Electoral College to demonstrate its value by denying Trump the Presidency per the founding fathers original intention. When the Electoral College convenes on 19 December to make the election of the new President official, The members of this esteemed body need to man up and deliver this 'effectual security against this mischief' that Hamilton believed it should.

If the Electoral College fails in this mission, we the people should be taking actions immediately to completely eliminate the Electoral College from the election of the President.