Dear Editor,
The USA is undoubtedly an amazing country. For many emigrants across the world she embodies the hopes and aspiration of those in search of a better life. The American society, itself, has come a far way from the century-old segregation laws that came to an end in the 1950s to the present situation where its head of state is now a black American. It is therefore surprising, and then again perhaps not so surprising, that the likes of a Donald Trump has captured the Republican Party’s nomination for president.
Trump’s ascendancy seemed to have been spurred on by a kind of populism which some have argued represents a retrograde step. Against this background and on the assumption that Trump is victorious in the popular vote come November, the electoral college may have no alternative but to act strictly in accordance with its original purpose.
In their wisdom, the founding fathers of America saw it fit to create an electoral college, whereby a presidential candidate who received the popular vote would still have to gain the majority of the votes of the members of the electoral college in order to occupy the position of president of the United States.
A large part of the rationale of the founding fathers was the fear of a direct election to the presidency; they feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power. While it can be argued that the electoral college is an anachronism because it flies in the face of democracy, Trump winning the popular vote may just be the case in point needed to prove that the founding fathers of America were correct in their concept of what democracy was and ought to be.
The reality is that the result of any American presidential election is bound to be far-reaching and will affect many countries, including Jamaica. The foreign policy of any American president oftentimes defines and dictates our own destiny as developing countries within this hemisphere.
Against this background, it behoves us to pay close attention to the upcoming American presidential elections. A Donald Trump presidency will have far-reaching consequences for the future of many countries, including our own, and may well trump anything to which we have been accustomed.
Peter Champagnie
Attorney-at-law
Peter.champagnie@gmail.com
The USA is undoubtedly an amazing country. For many emigrants across the world she embodies the hopes and aspiration of those in search of a better life. The American society, itself, has come a far way from the century-old segregation laws that came to an end in the 1950s to the present situation where its head of state is now a black American. It is therefore surprising, and then again perhaps not so surprising, that the likes of a Donald Trump has captured the Republican Party’s nomination for president.
Trump’s ascendancy seemed to have been spurred on by a kind of populism which some have argued represents a retrograde step. Against this background and on the assumption that Trump is victorious in the popular vote come November, the electoral college may have no alternative but to act strictly in accordance with its original purpose.
In their wisdom, the founding fathers of America saw it fit to create an electoral college, whereby a presidential candidate who received the popular vote would still have to gain the majority of the votes of the members of the electoral college in order to occupy the position of president of the United States.
A large part of the rationale of the founding fathers was the fear of a direct election to the presidency; they feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power. While it can be argued that the electoral college is an anachronism because it flies in the face of democracy, Trump winning the popular vote may just be the case in point needed to prove that the founding fathers of America were correct in their concept of what democracy was and ought to be.
The reality is that the result of any American presidential election is bound to be far-reaching and will affect many countries, including Jamaica. The foreign policy of any American president oftentimes defines and dictates our own destiny as developing countries within this hemisphere.
Against this background, it behoves us to pay close attention to the upcoming American presidential elections. A Donald Trump presidency will have far-reaching consequences for the future of many countries, including our own, and may well trump anything to which we have been accustomed.
Peter Champagnie
Attorney-at-law
Peter.champagnie@gmail.com