We are not a true democracy, we are a representative rebublic.
We do not have to vote republican or democrat. I vote on issues, not party. In the past I have tended to vote Democrat, but it's always been the lessor of 2 evils to me.

Hi Fanta

Hey

Check this out!
You think todays elections are screwed up.

The Election of 1824 clearly showed that the "era of good feelings" had come to an end. All the candidates were Democratic-Republicans, but personal and sectional interests outweighed political orthodoxy. The candidates included:

*John Quincy Adams, son of a Federalist president, represented the interests of the Northeast (high protective tariff) and was the leading contender

*Henry Clay of Kentucky shared political views with Adams, but they held one another in contempt — the rigid New Englander versus the hard-drinking Westerner

*Andrew Jackson, a Senator from Tennessee and military hero, drew Western support from Clay despite the fact that his political views were not well-known

*William H. Crawford of Georgia was born in Virginia and hoped to continue the "Virginia Dynasty;" he held to the old-line Republican view of limiting the role of the central government, but was still the congressional power brokers' favorite

*John C. Calhoun of South Carolina harbored presidential aspirations, but backed out in the hope of securing the vice presidency.

When results were tallied it was evident that Clay had siphoned-off enough votes from Adams to deny him an electoral majority. Adams finished with 84 votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41 and Clay 37.

Popular Vote;

Andrew Jackson-152,933

John Quincy Adams-115,596

Henry Clay-47,136

William Crawford-46,979

Who do you think won?

JQA

The Twelfth Amendment (adopted in 1804 following the disputed Election of 1800) provided that elections in which no candidate received a majority should be decided by the House of Representatives from among the top three candidates. Clay was out of contention and Crawford was an unlikely prospect because of a serious illness.

Jackson clearly expected to win, figuring that the House would act to confirm his strong showing. However, Clay, as Speaker of the House, used his influence to sway the vote to Adams. Although they were not close, Clay knew that he and Adams shared a common political philosophy; Clay also knew that Jackson was an avowed opponent of the Bank of the United States, a vital component of the American System. Clay also was not interested in doing anything to further the career of the hero of New Orleans, his main rival in the West.

Adams prevailed on the first ballot in the House of Representatives and became the nation's sixth president. His subsequent appointment of Henry Clay as Secretary of State led to angry charges of a "corrupt bargain."

So you see,
It doesnt work for the people to have multiple candidates.
No one gets a majority of the electorial votes and the House picks!

In the case of 1824 Andrew Jackson had more electorial votes and more popular votes and yet he lost!

Everyone complains today about bias press coverage.

Nothing has changed it was always that wat,

Presidential Elections of 1824
Each of those nominated represented a different part of the country. As had become common in Presidential campaigns the newspapers of the time wrote very favorable items about those they supported, but attacked those they opposed with venom. They made fun of how poorly Adams dressed and his "English" wife. They call Clay a drunkard and gambler, charged that Crawford had done unlawful acts while in office and accused Jackson of murder.


http://www.historycentral.com/elections/1824.html

It cracks me up when people say things like American Politics have went to hell.


They've always been hell!!

SNAFU!!

It's still better than having 2 people that are both bought off by the corporations, We can still vote for anyone over 35, born a citizen & living in the US for at least 14 years. We need to vote in a real patriot, who loves this country more than money.

I dont see how you can think that having the House of Representatives pick the president could be better.

It wasn't then, they called the election the corrupt bargain.
By helping Adams to win Clay was appointed Sec of State.
Jackson was left out even though the majority of Americans favored him!
Those guys were no less corrupt or less influenced by Industry than politicians today.

Obama, IMO, is the closer than any of the candidates in 1824.
He's no John Edwards, but the Democrats were more worried with making history than studying the issues.
They wanted either the first black President, or the first woman President. I'm just happy Obama won.
IMO, we got lucky because he is the better of the two Democrats and a damn shot better than McCain.
I believe we were luckier than people realize and you will see it when he takes office. America has hope yet, and hopes name is Barack Obama!!

We can beotch, and wish for the perfect candidate till the cows fly south for the winter. It's not going to happen, and it isnt very productive.
Or we can vote for the best candidate we have, get behind that candidate, and hope he can save us!

I am not "beotching". The original post was link was to an alternative. I am trying to educate myself on alternatives & share that information. It dosn't suit your agenda so it's "beotching"? Let's not take this thread down that road please.

I noticed and changed it to the less general term WE.

I am ending this with a quote from you that I heartily agree with.

Where's Teddy Roosevelt and the Bullmoose party when ya need em.
i think multiple canidates is the ticket.the electoral college picks now so why not the House?There should be a spending limit anyway and ads on TV should be free as part of the process so all eligible canidates can be heard.like justice,the presidency can be bought.