The Electoral College and the two-party system are both defended as forcing political candidates – from president on down – toward the middle of the political spectrum. Both institutions work in tandem.

But this is a deceit which is intended to keep this system alive long after its sell date.

It’s why “Democratic” and “Republican” are two self-descriptions which have changed definition at least 4 times since the Civil War.

It’s why, for a long time, presidential candidates had to pursue campaign promises which appealed to regional differences within the two political parties on political ideology and economic interest. The priorities of a Republican in New York was not the same as those of a Republican in Arizona; a Democrat in Illinois did not have the same priorities as a Democrat in Georgia. But regional differences have minimized somewhat as communication has intensified, more identities have been welcomed or scrutinized, and sitting politicians pursue someone’s model legislation or model lawsuit at the state level across multiple regions.

It’s why we haven’t had a new Constitution since 1787 or a new constitutional amendment since 1971.

We’ve preserved and prioritized stability between regions at the cost of adaptability, and now we are paying the cost.