The Hypocrisy Of The Electoral System | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

The Hypocrisy Of The Electoral System

Why change must occur, soon.

11
The Hypocrisy Of The Electoral System

Election time is almost among us. For some areas of the country, it has already begun. This is my first presidential election that I will have the honor of participating in and I would like to share my humble opinion on the topic. Have any of you ever noticed that the American political system is extremely hypocritical?

One could make a solid argument and go as far as saying that all of humanity is hypocritical, but for today: let's just stick to politics. The presidential election as a whole is an incredible event. We see more and more every year that our votes truly do not matter. How could I say such a thing, considering elections are won by most popular vote, right? Well, not really, here's why: more and more we can see that there are aspects of the electoral system that are inherently flawed. One of the most notable examples in recent years would be the Bush v. Gore election back in the early 2000's. There was a fowl up in counting votes in Bush's brother's state of Florida, and Bush ends up beating Gore because of the vote. Now, I am not putting on a tin foil hat or anything, but that does seem a bit curious.

Fast forward to this election; Senator Bernie Sanders is running against Hillary Clinton. Sanders is winning in popular vote in many areas of the country, yet, Hillary won by a landslide in super-delegate votes. Then, after the major vote at the Democratic National Convention, emails are leaked between the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's Campaign showing plots and actions to keep Sanders from winning the primaries. A good man who is always on the right side of history, even when it is perceived at the time to be wrong, was kept out of winning because of political favors and corruption. So I will ask again, do you think our votes truly matter?

Let's now move to the political parties as a whole: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Something I always found curious was the great debate of abortion. When looking at the general consensus of both parties, it seems evident that one tends to lean as a whole on the side of personal liberties and freedom; meanwhile the other side tends to lean on the side of greater restriction. The Democrats tend to pass strict laws on its citizens--we can see this with gun control--while the Republicans cry for personal freedom within the constitution. Knowing that, when discussing abortion, Republicans do not wish to grant people with the personal freedom of choice, while the Democrats desire freedom of choice. If this is not hypocritical then I do not know what is. Something that is also hypocritical about this subject is the Republican party's reasoning as to why they disagree with abortion. In general, Republicans are seen as more religious and are proud of that fact. There is nothing wrong with being religious; if you are a part of a party which prides itself on standing by the Constitution, then why are you allowing personal religious beliefs to dictate law? We live in a country that is supposed to keep the church and state separate, that was an idea expressed by our founding fathers.

At the end of the day, we need to realize that we are losing control of our government. Maybe it has always been this way, or maybe this level of corruption and foul play is new. Regardless, this is not what our ancestors fought for, and this is not the country that our leaders say it is.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

12804
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
college

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

5639
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

4170
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Signs You Live At The Library As Told by 'Parks And Recreation'

A few signs that you may live in the library whether you'd like to admit it or not.

3648
brown wooden book shelves with books

Finals week is upon us. It is a magical time of year during which college students everywhere flock to the library in attempt to learn a semester's worth of knowledge in only a week. For some students, it's their first time in the library all semester, maybe ever. Others have slaved away many nights under the fluorescent lights, and are slightly annoyed to find their study space being invaded by amateurs. While these newbies wander aimlessly around the first floor, hopelessly trying to find a table, the OGs of the library are already on the third floor long tables deep into their studies. Here is a few signs that you may live in the library, whether you'd like to admit it or not.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments