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Andy Baio (andybaio@xoxo.zone)'s status on Saturday, 06-Jul-2024 04:15:42 JST Andy Baio
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In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton wrote that the Electoral College would act as a safeguard against unqualified candidates becoming president. He thought it'd be possible for a rich famous asshole to leverage their popularity to become a governor or state legislator, but surely they wouldn't be able to fool enough electors to become President! Whoops. https://ballotpedia.org/Federalist_No._68_by_Alexander_Hamilton_(1788)
In conversation about 5 months ago from xoxo.zone permalink
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1. "The process of election affords a moral certainty, that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to the first honors in a single State; but it will require other talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union, or of so considerable a portion of it as would be necessary to make him a successful candidate for the distinguished office of President of the United States. It will not be too strong to say, that there will be a constant probability of seeing the station filled by characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue. And this will be thought no inconsiderable recommendation of the Constitution, by those who are able to estimate the share which the executive in every government must necessarily have in its good or ill administration. Though we cannot acquiesce in the political heresy of the poet who says: "For forms of government let fools contest That which is best administered is best, yet we may safely pronounce, that the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to produce a good administration."
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  Federalist No. 68 by Alexander Hamilton (1788)
  
  Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics
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  Andy Baio (andybaio@xoxo.zone)'s status on Saturday, 06-Jul-2024 04:15:43 JST Andy Baio
  
  Isn't it weird that there are no requirements to run for President besides being at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a U.S. resident for 14 years? The screening process to become a U.S. citizen is far more rigorous, but anyone born here that's rich and famous enough is somehow qualified to run the country, even if they don't know how a bill becomes a law.
  
  In conversation about 5 months ago permalink
  
  Evan Prodromou repeated this.

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