Tuesday, November 13, 2007

In recent years, the Electoral Process has experienced much scrutiny. With reformers always alluding to the 2000 Election of Bush/Gore, many people share the wanted change to the electoral system. What these reformers don’t understand are the strengths that the current process brings. Sure, we could change the system, but that takes time away from solving other pressing matters. Changing the Electoral College process is more trouble than its worth, and, by the mere fact we have a current system, we do not need to amend it.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Brief: Leave the Electoral Process Alone

In recent years, the Electoral Process has experienced much scrutiny. With reformers always alluding to the 2000 Election of Bush/Gore, many people share the wanted change to the electoral system. What these reformers don’t understand are the strengths that the current process brings. Sure, we could change the system, but that takes time away from solving other pressing matters and weakens the known and understood system of today.
Why keep the Electoral College the way it is?
Reason 1: It is necessary to attract presidential candidates to less populous states.
Evidence: If abolished, Candidates would not focus on "swing" states but only very populated ones. In these populous states, the candidate will maximize his potential voters. The Electoral College ensures smaller states have an impact on the presidential vote.
Reason 2: Abolishing the Electoral College allows third party prominence.
Evidence: Having more than two parties disunites America. Three or more parties allows for a plurality winner, one the majority of the nation will be unhappy with. Also, if said third party wins an election, the policy changes will be drastic. The current system handles this by making third parties side and compromise with one of the two major parties.
Reason 3: The Electoral College preserves the Republic and steers clear of an absolute democracy.
Evidence: By definition, the U.S.A. is constitutional republic. Becoming a true democracy, one run by popular vote, means abandoning core values of which the nation was built.
For this argument, my target audience will be the attentive public, that is, those who follow politics daily and are interested in voting. The argument is not limited to just theses folks, but it will serve them the best. Convincing another in favor of the electoral process system is a great achievement, but, if not, creating a greater attentive public is a good second place.
Of this target audience, the public might have preconceptions of the topic of the electoral process. An example is that most in favor of leaving the process alone are conservative and have right leaning tendencies. The preconceptions of these are hard to overcome. My only way to battle this is that I am quite the moderate when it comes to politics.
After reading and understanding my argument, I want readers to see that the Electoral Process is fine in its current state and changing it requires time that it is unobtainable. The basic claim is that reform of the system is unnecessary, and as I will prove, changing the system could weaken the country.
In order to appeal to the attentive public, it will take well reasoned, logical and style based modes of appeal. Included in these modes are: showing how reform sets the stage for a many party system, reform hinders minority groups, changes to the system strike at the foundation of a federal system, and other systems are difficult to consider, implement and apply. Appealing to character will not be helpful in this realm; it will only make my argument weaker because an analytical reader will see it as steering away from the point.
To arrange these, I will need to start with ideas that the majority of people agree with, like giving power to minorities. Once I make a statement that I have considered the possible options, I will try to convince my readers that, on the basis of my remaining examples that the Electoral College is in no need of change.
Introducing the case will be difficult. Because so much of the talk has to do with changing the system, it will be troublesome to bring up the point without the reader automatically thinking the change is necessary. I can try to counteract this by making my claim early and not letting the reader have time to formulate an opinion until after my reasons are read. If I am able to do this, the reader will be much more enlightened and more inclined to see the flaws in possible change to the system.
Concluding the argument will be easier. After making my well reasoned points, it will be clear that the changes are not necessary and proposed changes to the electoral process hurt those who are in need of help.
Gaining the trust of the audience will be achieved by citing relevant figures in today’s politics. Gaining their respect will be a matter of finding ways to implement these figures into my paper, and not only cite them, but show that they agree with me.