Ever since Plato wrote The Republic, political philosophers have worried about the potential consequences of a populace swept into the maw of a charismatic demagogue able to excite their passions. A mob cannot be expected to behave rationally or, even, self-interestedly, and that’s the reason America’s founders rejected popular democracy and opted instead for a republic.
We, the People, do not elect the president. We elect a slate of electors who will represent us in the Electoral College — a single-usage, special-purpose legislature called for the sole purpose of selecting a president. They can elect anybody they like, including me. (Breathe easy: If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.)
Since electors ordinarily vote for the candidate of the political party which nominates them, the expectation is that the Republican electors will vote for Donald Trump, and that on December 19th he will be elected President of the United States.
It doesn’t have to go that way, however, and there are some indications that it may be a closer race than the default expectation. At least six electors have publicly announced that they are not going to vote for Trump, and there are doubtless others who aren’t going to vote for Trump but lack the courage to say so publicly.
One elector, Michael Baca said in a statement that he wouldn’t vote for Trump.
“The Founding Fathers created the Electoral College as the last line of defense, and I think we must do all that we can to ensure that we have a Reasonable Republican candidate who shares our American values,” he said.
I hope the Electoral College steps up to its responsibilities, that there are a lot more like Mr. Baca, and that it rejects the conspicuously unfit Trump. Hillary is no prize, but she’s not obviously an insane authoritarian narcissist, and given the alternative she’s looking pretty good.