(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

Most voters think that they have a vote when it comes to electing the president and vice president of these United States. Not so. Those two offices are elected by Electors. As the Constitution says: “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress …”(Art II, Sec. 1) “The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice president.” (XII Amendment)

This language plainly indicates that the legislature of each state has the power to determine “in such manner as (it) may direct” who the Electors are and for whom they should vote. For example, under this language, the legislature of any state could pass a law saying, in effect, “We’ve appointed some of our buddies as Electors and they are going to vote for Trump in the 2024 election.”

Sound democratic? Of course, it’s not and that’s because not all the Founding Fathers were really big on the democracy thing, and especially they didn’t care for the common people having too much of a say in government. Over the years, the states passed laws and constitutional provisions specifying that the Electors are chosen by the popular vote. But can the present legislatures ignore those laws and do whatever they want?

That’s the gist of a case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. If the court decides in favor of the power of state legislatures, then pretty much American democracy is dead. Maybe, that’s what present day Republicans want. But the unforeseen consequences of such a decision may not be pleasant for either Republicans or Democrats.

For example, if the state legislatures have the power to decide presidential elections, a candidate has no incentive to appeal to the people — no incentive to describe his policies and plans, no incentive to lie to the various interests. He need only bribe enough state legislators to get the victory.

Actually, it might work out OK. Having no need to lie to the people, candidates will not spend billions on ridiculous advertisements, they’ll simply give those billions to greedy, corruptible state politicians. Imagine. The people may not even know who the candidates are. Well, who cares? This democracy thing is too much effort anyway.

Patrick Radcliff

Marietta