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Is the electoral system outdated?

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    Dixie Swanson explains common misconceptions about the electoral process

  • Duration 9:19
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Is about the common misconceptions.

About the electoral process it'll start signing away what you hear from this Dixie Swanson she's a former assistant to -- -- insiders spent time not only in the Oval Office.

But in the family quarters as well college career is pediatrician in the family health reporter for NBC's Houston affiliate I know that -- She's now -- -- -- advocate for changes to our political system and author of the accidental.

Resident dead trilogy.

-- -- that's gonna be interesting political -- of our times.

-- wanting -- morning to you.

Good morning and thank you so much for inviting me I'm happy to have you because -- got to tell you something this electoral process I think.

-- the minds of many first of all what would you say are the common misconceptions about the electoral process.

What what's good about it what's not good about it if you had your way would you change it take it away Dixie.

Well I think the most common misconception is that it's fair or equitable it is not.

And 48 of the fifty states it's a winner take all race.

You can win by one vote in Wyoming.

And walk away with three -- electoral.

It's.

But if you win by one that in California.

You get 55.

Electoral it's.

So it flies in the face of our American principle of one person one vote.

On the other -- -- Disney the other misconception.

And the other misconception people have is that.

-- somehow all comes out in the wash.

It does not.

And we -- red states and Blue States and then we had.

This swing or the battleground states so what happens is -- that campaign.

If this -- is safe.

For a Republican candidate for example.

He might not spend much time -- money there.

Because he knows he's got a lock on that.

And and and opponent won't spend much time there because he doesn't have a lock on that any -- have a prayer.

And so.

-- only a few of the states really see the candidates intensely.

The biggest one being Florida.

Which is up for grabs with 29 electoral votes and then you have states like Pennsylvania -- when he Ohio with eighteen.

Virginia and North Carolina and the 1516.

Range.

Michigan and Wisconsin and that's going to be where the candidates are spending the most money.

It will probably be wall to wall ads.

Until the election.

I mean so Dixie you know this has been going on almost since the beginning of voting time very early on.

Did the electoral process.

That it was incorporated into -- the voting system.

What why isn't still around his neck as I said I think it bogs the minds of a lot of Americans who are under the idea that if I -- the polls -- push that button to click then you know.

-- you do these days it in your particular precinct.

That my vote counts and it it seems like no maybe not so much it's you know the popular vote is it's you have to really.

And have an overwhelming.

Money the popular vote to really win so why is it's still in place you thinking.

Do you think there's -- need perhaps will be any talk of of changing the system.

Well I favor the abolition have electoral voting.

Because we are one and nation we -- no longer thirteen loosely affiliated states.

The way it was when it was.

When -- was drafted ahead and we think of ourselves as one nation and everybody's vote should count the same so I favor abolishing it.

It's been tried to you.

But failed.

But this system itself has failed us three times we've had.

An 18761888.

And then in 2000 we had.

The person who won the popular -- -- but lose the election.

And it's out and that really -- down to.

-- that's just un American.

Yeah I would really like to go see it under way away so how do you go about starting the process of -- -- having it done away with in your words.

Well -- -- there are several ways to and then the constitution.

And in my book my -- fictional character realizes.

That what ever is scheduled for 99%.

Of the people is usually blocked by the lobbyist for the 1%.

And says she comes up with a package.

Amendments that she thinks are appropriate for -- 21 century.

We have an eighteenth century document trying to help us government 21 century.

Country we need the line item in.

And we need constitutionally.

Mandated campaign reform that cannot be -- And so it has that pass any constitutional amendment.

Their -- why isn't going about it -- basically.

Excuse me if I -- -- -- I understand.

The process.

More more or is -- anywhere and seems like your book is fascinating a political let's see -- as accidental president trilogy.

A political fable for our time -- pick it up there -- cover.

-- Dixie wrapping it up -- who do you seem to have great idea is.

In a very great way of explaining what's right and what's wrong.

Are you going to be spearheading some sort of committee.

That will go to DC perhaps and try to get this process started in it in in changing the electoral.

Abolishing the electoral.

Process.

And that's to be -- and I would really like for these ideas to cash -- grassroots.

Turning to a grass fire and have everybody down -- we did it because anything that 300 million Americans want.

We can hand.

We know you start a FaceBook page regarding this you can -- get a lot of good grassroots.

Support going in -- in Dallas a lot of people they are very.

You know civil minded and very in -- into politics so maybe you could started there at least try to see how far it goes.

Make some really well and sing Dixie I am I didn't know yeah I -- I am thank you again for having me yes seriously as it sounds great Dixie Swanson thank you very much for your time.

Earlier you know it lion let me think -- Dixie Braylon my lovely panel -- go but before relieve Liz peek into the wind or give me some final thoughts -- anything we've discussed thus far.

Well I have to say I think that.

Whole notion of -- -- back Electoral College is very interesting.

But isn't it interesting that this comes up every four years there's every four years there's an outcry about it.

Really it's so unlikely that anything will get done her comment that it 300 million people want it should happen.

She's right.

But it doesn't.

It's frustrating.

Very because the end there's electoral college of 400 difficult.

But you know she's right then and I think one thing that you know we're we're gonna see again this election cycle we talked a lot about it what is that.

Is that some people are gonna get overlooked.

Because not only the way you -- The election works but simply it is simply the way that.

Political campaigns have to do their calculus to win.

And get a candidate in new rules -- lighten lessen your rules governing this is a shame in it but you know outside the party's.

This is the system is so entrenched you know it's very difficult for the party select go what they what they have and there are some states that will come out losers if we switch to just a -- general.

Election.

You know -- And by the way the idea that their candidate -- good enough exposure I think the -- At a value of it if they completely avoided my statement that be -- -- there -- television there's.

The end -- and we we see a lot of these guys I don't think I don't think it matters -- -- -- things.

In fact when -- -- -- New -- it's complete fiasco looks a book.

How does that have its way through.

No I'm sorry guys who is -- even -- thank you very much he's a great conversation -- -- I think -- good.

Ideas -- -- -- people who live here and everybody in.

Food for thought.

Yeah definitely has that let me tweet me yet here you Colin and I should follow you at -- peek at lives peek at our -- level at Liz peek.

Dignity of its bitterness -- David Martin and WD ND and are there any -- -- her lack of imagination.

We know what I know it's interesting it's when you want people to find you -- that we are you have to you know.

We can't -- like you know what you know we -- wrapper code treats every now and you know it's still early in the game -- I thought that that was cool -- -- you work.

I think our guys see you show -- -- different.

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