U.S. election process is truly bizarre

Pignanelli: Anatomy experts believe the appendix was once a vital organ in the distant past of our species, but now offers no benefit to humankind. When inflamed (appendicitis), the appendix fatally threatens the body and is removed. The Electoral College is the infected appendix of the American political system. It must be amputated and replaced with a nationwide popular election. (Alright, comparing the College to a diseased organ is overreaching, but so is everything this campaign season).

The genius of the Constitution is astounding, but the original rational behind the Electoral College is now irrelevant. Moreover, the current system of "winner takes all" in each state is warping the 2004 elections. The country is divided by candidates and the media into blue and red states, depending on the polls. Only the 15 states evenly split between John Kerry and George Bush are receiving any attention. The campaigns have written off or taking for granted the remaining 35 states. This is a terrible but established trend; in 1976 at least 40 states were competitive. Because only a small number of voters in swing states will determine the entire outcome, the election process is truly bizarre. California, Texas and New York are ignored while millions are spent to influence small populations of swing states (i.e. white Catholics in Ohio). Targeting so many resources at tiny demographic slices is destructive to the national fabric.

Political academics dust off the usual arguments to defend the Electoral College, but 18th Century logic dissolves when confronted by 21st Century realities. The favorite is the existing system benefits smaller states - the Senate delegates allocated to them add influence and compel greater attention from candidates. A nice theory, but when did a presidential contender last visit Utah to truly persuade local voters, and not to speak at some convention or mumble encouraging words to media while the campaign plane is refueled? Historians suggest it was Harry Truman's whistle stop tour in 1948. The premise is further eroded under modern analysis. According to Electoral College Primer 2000, Utah is one of the six states with the least voting power in national elections. Another favorite is the College preserves federalism in government. Yet, the two other branches are so federalist in structure that an infusion of nationalism in the executive Branch is needed to represent the concepts and ideas that transcend state boundaries. Furthermore, a successful national candidate will construct broad alliance of many categories of Americans, not just rely on a coalition of the party base with a faction of independents.