Let's talk faithless electors and the nails in the coffin of the electoral college being at all useful.
Today, the Supreme Court said that Washington and Colorado are entitled to fine and otherwise sanction electors who don't vote for their party's nominee. Electors are the folks who actually elect the president, even though approximately 0.05% of Americans understand that or why
Writing this part of the Constitution came at the end. People were tired and grumpy and done (#relatable) so they were pretty fuzzy on the details of how the electoral college should work.
A certain someone believed the electors should be wise and discerning and independent. But that didn't make it into the Constitution.
The Court said, basically, states can do what they want. The Twelfth Amendment pretty well enshrined partisanship in this process, and people expect the popular vote to determine the outcome. So, all the best to your judgment electors. Just write down what you're told.
All the details on tomorrow's Nightly Nuance.
If the Electoral College isn't a check on the popular vote, and knowing that the US population has changed so significantly since it's inception, we might reasonably ask what the ever-loving point is anymore.
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January 6th Committee Hearing 7 - Chairman Thompson is gaveling in
"When I think about the most basic way to explain the importance of elections in the United States, there's a phrase that always comes to mind...we settle our differences at the ballot box." - Rep. Thompson
"When you're on the losing side...you can protest, you can organize, you can get ready for the next election...but you can't turn violent. You can't try to achieve your desired outcome through force or harassment or intimidation." - Rep. Thompson
Jacobson v. Mass is a Supreme Court case from 1905. Massachusetts had a law stating that the board of health or a city or town could “require and enforce the vaccinations and revaccination of all inhabitants thereof.”
The fine for noncompliance was $5. Physicians could certify certain children as “unfit subjects for vaccination.”
Agree with Branden that the language around this has been imprecise. It is a sweeping action, AND testing is an alternative to vaccination. And, there's a lot of other stuff in this plan that isn't getting much coverage:
The administration is using the Defense Production Act to increase the availability of testing. Rapid, at-home tests will be sold at cost for 3 months via Walmart, Amazon, Kroger. The administration is sending 25 million rapid tests fo community health centers and food banks.
The free testing program is expanding to 10,000 pharmacies. Basically, a lot of money and resources are being aimed at expanding the availability, convenience, and discipline around testing (editorial comment: hallelujah. I wish we had done this 2 years ago -b).
Tomorrow on the podcast, my friend Brian (in Sarah's absence-enjoy the vacation, Sarah!) & I briefly discuss the corporate fallout from Georgia's elections legislation. I have a little more I would like to say about this, with help from America's favorite pastime.
I've read so many "is it really voter suppression?" takes over the past few days. I would so much like to exit the Take Economy.
As we've said before, there are elements of this (big ole) bill that are desirable... Like allowing officials to start processing absentee ballots earlier.