Editor,

In his letter to the editor, Brad Taylor made the argument for the electoral college, and I would like to add my two pennies worth for those who were never instructed as to why.

In writing the Constitution, the founding fathers faced the problem of fairly representing all the people.

Big states favored majority rule, while small states wanted equal representation on par with the large states. The compromise was a divided legislative body.

Large states got majority rule in the House of Representatives while small states got equal representation in the Senate.

The electoral college prevents majority rule from imposing its will on minorities. Hence a republic.

In a republic, minorities have rights, in democracies only the majority does.

Fred Wilferth

Coupeville