The Electoral College is greatly misunderstood. It is really two things. The first, which people often find amusing, is a set of delegates who are the actual voters. This aspect is irrelevant because the delegates always vote exactly the way they are supposed to vote. There have been a meaningless handful of exceptions to this rule over the years.

The second aspect is the way that representation is delegated to each state. This is extremely important. It is designed to represent the compromise originally established in the Constitution where each state gets exactly two senators and as many representatives as appropriate to its population. The Electoral College reflects this allocation, giving each state a vote for each senator and each representative that it holds. This is essentially a handicap provided for the small states. It is balanced by the fact that states cast their votes as a bloc, giving an advantage to the large states.

jj mollo, Philadelphia, USA/PA

We have the Electoral College because the USA is a federal nation. She is not a democracy in the strictest sense, but a representative republic. The states vote for their preferred candidate, and electoral votes are awarded proportionally, according to each state's representation in congress. Time was, the EC was not a mere formality. States chose their electors at different times of year, with electors choosing the president. Since our founding we have, regrettably, drifted away from federalism, making things like the EC seem anachronistic. While a great deal has changed since 1787, the EC is a healthy reminder that we live in a federal system, and hopefully could help refocus the priorities of our federal and state governments. The federal government should handle the "big" things (defense, trade, highway construction, etc) and the states should take care of human services, such as education and law enforcement. In my opinion.

Eric Richard, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Obama says that the 'border security in Afganistan is insufficient' while we've got 30,000 troops there patrolling, and 0 in the US on the Canadian and Mexican border, is this guy F*&^ing a retard? Take care of our borders from this 'peaceful religion' that is trying to take over our country. Anyone hear of the towel head that just killed his two daughters in Texas as 'honor killings'? Go Barak Hussien Obama, at least GW has a fast lane for idiot murderers...I realize that GW has very dumb [policie](s) but c'mon, this guy doesn't know his a $$ from a hole in the ground...no illegals, or give them driver's licences please, he's got no experience! in anything. He was created by the media, for the media, for profit! Get over it LIBS!!! It didn't work in Russia (USSR) it won't work here. Muslims just save your time and blow yourselves up at any Dem primary please!!!! Livberalism is truly a mental disorder - Savage.

Fred, Hudsonville, MI

Grant, At the time the electoral college was devised, there weren't any states at all except coastal ones. California wasn't even anybody's nightmare at that time. I'm not sure whether it meets any needs - geographic, class-wise, or otherwise in the 21st century.

Chuck, Richmond, VA

400,000 to decide the president. I thought it was 12.

yankee diddle, Edinburgh,

The Electoral College is not at all a "Banana Republic" type system but was carefully crafted by the founders so that American politics is not dominated by large coastal states like California and New York. So the heartland of the country does have a say as well.

Grant, Scarsdale NY, USA

Yankee Doodle asks "Do you really think we would allow about 400,000 people to decide our next President?".

From a nation with a banana republic "electoral college" system who managed to allow a misaligned counting machine in Florida to elect George W Bush, such unfettered democracy could produce an improvement.

Fruitbat, Wirral, UK

"In those 13 races, only one winner in Iowa has gone on to win the presidency the following November – George W. Bush in 2000. "

You missed one, friend: Jimmy Carter in 1976. He didn't actually win because he didn't get a majority, but he got the most votes (plurality). That 'win' took him from obscurity to instant nation-wide fame. But otherwise, I COMPLETELY agree.

The Iowa Causus is the most overrated event in American politics. Do you really think we would allow about 400,000 people to decide our next President?

yankee doodle, cleveland, usa

(A lessor known GOP hopeful registered the Federal Election Commission posted this in today's Des Moines Register.) "Openly cheated by the Iowa GOP I urge all Republicans to boycott the caucuses. The current system is like how the Soviets controlled ballot access to "approved" candidates. The caucuses are about lining the pockets of party officials, local lawyers, flacks, community leaders and consultants. I got into trouble because my campaign was self financed and relied on volunteers. When I won Polk County Chairman's Ted Sporer's online straw poll with 52% (Romney got 14%), the party freaked. No way could the hacks fill their pockets with gold with Dr. Klein on the loose. So my name was permanently removed from the poll, refused a ballot line at Ames, and denied access to party functions and debates. Left Iowa several weeks ago to campaign in New Hampshire where the ballot is open to candidates who just pay a $1000 fee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oQdn6NvhIU"

MARK KLEIN, M.D., OAKLAND, CA

by Mrs. Lyndon Baines (Ladybird) Johnson
Former First Lady, United States Of America
Eleanor Roosevelt taught us that sometimes silence is the greatest sin.Women can move beyond the struggle for equal status and for material goods to the challenges and opportunities of citizenship. Quality of goals and the achievement of goals which will mean a better life for all. For me, it was the beginning of seeing how politics can bring tangible results. I always hope that the very best of our people will go into politics, and I am sure that some of our best are women. So, I say: "Don't hold back. Don't be shy. Step forward in every way you can to plan boldly, to speak clearly, to offer the leadership which the world needs. Let us today earnestly resolve to build the true foundation for Eleanor Roosevelt's memory--to pluck out prejudice from our lives, to remove fear and hate where it exists, and to create a world unafraid to work out its destiny in peace. Eleanor Roosevelt has already made her own splendid and incomparable contribution to that foundation. Let us go and do likewise, within the measure of our faith and the limits of our ability. Let Eleanor Roosevelt teach Us all how to turn the arts of compassion into the victories of democracy.Eleanor Roosevelt taught us that sometimes silence is the greatest sin.

Marcy Rothchilds, DeM, IA