Letter: Time to make every vote count

Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 | 7:10 a.m.

When will the people of this country come to the realization that the Electoral College does not benefit the small states? In fact it just may minimize the smaller states.

In his Dec. 6 letter, Clarence Lanzrath contends the liberal left wishes to amend the Constitution so as to abolish the Electoral College, thus creating an egalitarian society. Why shouldn't there be an egalitarian society when it comes to electing the president of the United States?

As long as the Electoral College exists, and the states continue the winner-take-all attitude, the will of the people can be nullified. If you believe that to be false, consider the election of 2000. Al Gore won the popular vote, but did not become president. That's simply because George W. Bush garnered a majority of the votes in certain states, giving him the entire electoral votes in those states, in contrast to the will of the majority of the country.

If you believe the Electoral College enhances the power of the small states, consider the following: The four "big states" mentioned by Mr. Lanzrath - New York, California, Florida and Texas - control 54.4 percent (147) of the 270 electoral votes needed to become president. This means 92 percent of the states (46) control only 45.6 percent of the needed votes.

And if you think Nevada's 5 electoral votes are not neutralized by Texas' 34, ask yourself why Nevada has been selected for a nuclear waste repository and not Texas.

Terry E Peele, Las Vegas