The Election of 2016

AKA: the craziness that ensued during the election is finally over.

Every single time I get on Facebook to read the normal status updates of my friends, it is now all about the fiasco that is the election. Everyone is either celebrating or complaining about the turn out of the votes. I’d like to remind everyone about the way the government actually works.

When people go to the polls on the second tuesday after the first monday (I’ll explain why that is later), one thinks they are voting for the president. In a way, yes, but that’s not the complete truth. When you go to the polls, what you are actually doing is voting for the party. Each party has a certain number of electors given to a certain state. California, for example has fifty-five electors. Most states are winner takes all. So if 51% of Californians vote democratic, then all fifty-five electors are the democratic voters. The electoral college is what’s important in winning the presidency, not the popular vote. George W Bush lost the popular vote in 2000, but won the electoral vote.

Now back to why it’s on the second tuesday after the first monday thing. This is actually for a very outdated reason that has no effect on present day. If anything, it’s more of an inconvenience today. The reason is because back in the 1700's and 1800's, there was an insane amount of importance to not miss church on the Sabbath. So, because farmers and other people were so concerned with church, they did not want to miss it. So they would use Monday as a travelling day, and Tuesday would be voting day, and Wednesday would be traveling back. Like I said, outdated.

Next on the rant about this election: Laws. I cannot say this often enough: the president doesn not make, enact, or enforce the laws. He cannot repeal, enact, make, or do anything with laws. That is Congress' job. So what is the president’s job, and why is it important if he’s not making the laws? That’s simple. Well, not really, but here’s the general gist: The president is the the head of the executive branch. He’s in charge of the military, the cabinet, appointing members of the government (Like the secretary of state), etc. The thing that should worry people concerning the power of President-elect Donald Trump is that he will be the only person who is allowed to make the order to use nuclear weapons.

Now I know this is long, but enjoy these election-themed memes.