Page 19 - Forbes - USA (March 2020)

“With all thy getting, get understanding”

FACT & COMMENT

By Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief

How to Save U.S. Politics

17

Critics of the much-maligned Electoral Col- had to explain how she was going to pay for all
lege overlook one of its fundamental virtues: the “free stuff” she was promising. Party mem-
tamping down dangerously divisive politics. bers were also put off by her harsh negativity.
Advocates of replacing this “18th-century If one of the parties does veer far from the
anachronism” with a straight popular vote im- existing center, it will suffer a shattering de-
plicitly assume the current two-party system feat, as the Democrats did in 1972 when they
would remain intact and that the candidate nominated a far-left candidate who ended
with the most individual votes—instead of up carrying only one state and the District
electoral votes—would win the White House. of Columbia.
That’s the way things work for every other Along the same lines, because candidates
elected office in the U.S.; why wouldn’t it be so have to wage nationwide campaigns to win,
for the most important one of all? the Electoral College forces these contenders
But the basic two-party arrangement we to become familiar with local and regional
take for granted exists only because of the Electoral Col- issues they might otherwise overlook, most particularly in
lege. To win the presidency, a candidate has to appeal to battleground states. The current arrangement does more to
people across the country. A nationwide coalition is essen- give a voice to minorities, people whose support could be
tial to gaining a majority in the Electoral College. A narrow crucial in key states.
sectional or special-interest base simply won’t cut it. That’s Today’s parties are state and local organizations. Each runs
why our parties are collections of many diverse interests and its own show its own way. Sure, there are national committees,
backgrounds, reflecting the character of this continental na- but they are essentially fundraising entities for congressional
tion whose citizens, or forebears, have come from all corners and gubernatorial candidates—and their party’s presidential
of the world and reflect a wide array of cultures and beliefs. candidate. Every four years local parties come together to for-
It’s why supporters of the Democratic and Republican par- mally nominate a presidential candidate, who then is auto-
ties are so often uneasy with one another. GOP voters in the matically put on the ballot in every state in the union (and the
Northeast, for instance, who tend to emphasize economic is- District of Columbia). In contrast, independent candidates for
sues such as low taxes, are put off by social conservatives. our ultimate office have to go through an expensive, laborious
The system puts a premium on moderation. Yes, candidates process to get on all the ballots. Few manage to do so. Each
can advocate bold programs, but they have to do so in ways that state has its own rules—some easy, others extremely difficult.
don’t alienate more tepid members of their party, not to men- A direct popular vote for president would shatter this po-
tion independent voters. A radical idea usually goes through litical ecosystem that’s uniquely suited to America.
what might be called a marinating process, during which time Individuals and special-interest organizations would con-
people become accustomed to the notion, and even then it has tinuously create their own parties. For example, would Mike
often become a watered-down version of the original. Bloomberg—who at various times during his political career
The Electoral College’s systemic bias for softening the has been a Democrat, a Republican and an independent—even
rough, potentially dangerous edges of national politics has en- bother to try to fetch the Democratic nomination for president?
abled us for over two centuries to debate and resolve even bit- Of course not. With his resources, he would do it on his own.
terly contentious issues without tearing apart the country and Unlike the two-party system the Electoral College fosters
leaving wounds that can fester for generations. The exception, today, there would be numerous candidates competing in
of course, was the issue of slavery. Otherwise, the tendency to a national election. More basic and ominous is that in con-
move toward moderation and inclusion has held. trast to the moderating bias of the Electoral College, a direct
Look at the Democrats. The party has indeed lunged to the popular-vote system would put a premium on inflaming pas-
left, but behold what’s happened to its presidential wannabes sions to gin up support for candidates in a crowded field.
who most faithfully parroted the extreme views of far-left ac- Of course, if no aspirant reached a certain threshold—and
tivists on such matters as rigid anti-individual identity politics what level should that be: 40%? 50%?—there would have to
or an immediate government takeover of health care: They’ve be a runoff. Since there would be so many candidates vying to
floundered or have tried to soften the sharpness of their views. occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one could easily envision
Elizabeth Warren’s once expanding bubble deflated once she elections in which the runoff would be between two extremist

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 F O R B E S . C O M