sluggerotoole--2020-10-29--Elisha McCallion resigns from the Seanad and McDonald apologises.

The Sinn Fein President , Mary-Lou McDonald has accepted the resignations of party officials , the most senior being former Foyle MP and Senator , Elisha McCallion .
This is the statement below ; “ Over the course of Monday and Tuesday of this week , the Sinn Féin leadership established that three party offices incorrectly received lodgements of £10,000 under the Small Business Grant scheme established by the Department of Economy in March 2020 .
“ The payments were not applied for and were automatically received as part of the round of grant payments in late March/early April from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Payments were paid into constituency accounts in West Tyrone and Lurgan , and into Elisha McCallion ’ s account in respect of her former Westminster office .
“ In each case the grant money has been returned in full , with repayments made on Monday and Tuesday of this week .
“ These monies should have been returned immediately as no political offices qualified for this grant .
The fact that this did not happen is unacceptable .
“ The party has established in each case where responsibility lay for the administration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reimbursement of these monies .
“ The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle met last night and censured all those involved .
“ Last night I accepted the resignation of Senator Elisha McCallion .
She accepts full responsibility for the failure to return the grant immediately .
“ The party also accepted the resignation of the party official in West Tyrone who had responsibility for the administration of the account and failed to promptly return the grant money despite being requested to do so by Maolíosa McHugh MLA .
“ The Cathaoirleach ( Chairperson ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constituency Organisation ) has also tendered his resignation in recognition of their failure to return the grant payment in a timely fashion .
“ The Small Business Grant scheme was established to support struggling businesses in times of extraordinary hardship .
“ The failure to immediately return grants erroneously paid into Sinn Féin accounts is a most serious situation .
“ As party leader I wish to acknowledge and apologise for these failures .
The former Senator , Elisha McCallion has issued a statement saying ; Earlier this year a Small Business Grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which I am a named signature with my husband .
I did not apply for nor solicit this money , nor did I receive any correspondence from the department in relation to it .
I fully accept that as a named signature on the account that I should have taken extra steps to verify this situation , before it was brought to my attention on Tuesday .
The money was repaid in full on Tuesday .
I apologise unreservedly for the poor judgement I showed in relation to this and therefore , last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tendered my resignation as a member of Seanad Éireann with immediate effect .
From the outside , the leadership will get credit for acting on this .
As we go through the second wave of the pandemic , the recession is starting to be felt as the jobless numbers rise and all of us feel the economic pain .
So on that score both Mary Lou and Michelle O ’ Neill will be seen in a positive light .
A week is a long time in politics and a year is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with John Finucane , Elisha McCallion was the face of the Sinn Fein campaign and was given a high profile .
A poor local election result , the disastrous Westminster result and now the departure of Elisha as a Senator just brings to the fore the party ’ s problem in the city .
Moreover , the stunning result in February next door in Donegal , does more to highlight the poor position of Sinn Fein in Derry .
And it ’ s worth noting the result last December was about more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage , they have nobody who can mount a substantial challenge to Colum Eastwood for the Westminster seat and with 18 months to go until the next Assembly Election , they will want to show some progress and rebound .
Karen Mullan is doing good work around education and is good at keeping a higher profile on a key issue .
The return of Martina Anderson is the big unknown as she has been out of the constituency for a long time at an Assembly level .
Either way , the party faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sails , a People Before Profit eager to make waves and Alliance looking to establish a beachhead in the constituency .
The surge that Sinn Fein enjoyed in February took the sting out of a bad result in December , but the problems haven ’ t gone away and the clock is ticking toward 2022 .
“ Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O ’ Neill ” by “ Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O ’ Neill ” is licensed under “ Sinn Féin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle O ’ Neill “

The Sinn Fein President, Mary-Lou McDonald has accepted the resignations of party officials, the most senior being former Foyle MP and Senator, Elisha McCallion.
This is the statement below;
“Over the course of Monday and Tuesday of this week, the Sinn Féin leadership established that three party offices incorrectly received lodgements of £10,000 under the Small Business Grant scheme established by the Department of Economy in March 2020. “The payments were not applied for and were automatically received as part of the round of grant payments in late March/early April from the Land and Property Service. “Payments were paid into constituency accounts in West Tyrone and Lurgan, and into Elisha McCallion’s account in respect of her former Westminster office. “In each case the grant money has been returned in full, with repayments made on Monday and Tuesday of this week. “These monies should have been returned immediately as no political offices qualified for this grant. The fact that this did not happen is unacceptable. “The party has established in each case where responsibility lay for the administration of the accounts in question and for the reimbursement of these monies. “The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle met last night and censured all those involved. “Last night I accepted the resignation of Senator Elisha McCallion. She accepts full responsibility for the failure to return the grant immediately. “The party also accepted the resignation of the party official in West Tyrone who had responsibility for the administration of the account and failed to promptly return the grant money despite being requested to do so by Maolíosa McHugh MLA. “The Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Upper Bann Comhairle Ceantair (Constituency Organisation) has also tendered his resignation in recognition of their failure to return the grant payment in a timely fashion. “The Small Business Grant scheme was established to support struggling businesses in times of extraordinary hardship. “The failure to immediately return grants erroneously paid into Sinn Féin accounts is a most serious situation. “As party leader I wish to acknowledge and apologise for these failures.
The former Senator, Elisha McCallion has issued a statement saying;
Earlier this year a Small Business Grant was lodged into a joint account of which I am a named signature with my husband. I did not apply for nor solicit this money, nor did I receive any correspondence from the department in relation to it. I fully accept that as a named signature on the account that I should have taken extra steps to verify this situation, before it was brought to my attention on Tuesday. The money was repaid in full on Tuesday. I apologise unreservedly for the poor judgement I showed in relation to this and therefore, last night I spoke to the party leader and tendered my resignation as a member of Seanad Éireann with immediate effect.
From the outside, the leadership will get credit for acting on this. As we go through the second wave of the pandemic, the recession is starting to be felt as the jobless numbers rise and all of us feel the economic pain. So on that score both Mary Lou and Michelle O’Neill will be seen in a positive light.
A week is a long time in politics and a year is an eternity. This time last year, along with John Finucane, Elisha McCallion was the face of the Sinn Fein campaign and was given a high profile. A poor local election result, the disastrous Westminster result and now the departure of Elisha as a Senator just brings to the fore the party’s problem in the city. Moreover, the stunning result in February next door in Donegal, does more to highlight the poor position of Sinn Fein in Derry. And it’s worth noting the result last December was about more than just Elisha McCallion.
At this stage, they have nobody who can mount a substantial challenge to Colum Eastwood for the Westminster seat and with 18 months to go until the next Assembly Election, they will want to show some progress and rebound. Karen Mullan is doing good work around education and is good at keeping a higher profile on a key issue. The return of Martina Anderson is the big unknown as she has been out of the constituency for a long time at an Assembly level.
Either way, the party faces an SDLP with the wind in their sails, a People Before Profit eager to make waves and Alliance looking to establish a beachhead in the constituency. The surge that Sinn Fein enjoyed in February took the sting out of a bad result in December, but the problems haven’t gone away and the clock is ticking toward 2022.
“Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O’Neill” by “Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O’Neill” is licensed under “Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice President Michelle O’Neill“


sluggerotoole--2020-10-30--Our two versions of history arise from what we leave out as much as what we leave in…

On October 22 in a webinar hosted by Trinity Long Room , Dublin , marking the launch of the digitalisation of the 1641 Depositions from victims of the violent events in Ireland at the time , former law academic and President of the Republic of Ireland , Mary McAleese stated that during her school days she had never been taught about 1641 and had never heard the history appertaining until she was in her 40s .
The remark , not in any way surprising , prompted memories of teaching the history of the period .
New statutory Programmes of Study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by working groups , emerged in the 1990s .
History teachers were provided with a file of History Units composed of Core topics and a selection of others designed to deliver different approaches to teaching and facilitate the use of existing resources in schools .
One of the Core units , targeted at Year 9 , focused on Ireland from the late C16 to the end of the Williamite period ; a challenging and demanding task for students and teachers in terms of content and complexity set as it is in a period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Civil War and struggle for power in Europe .
Using copies of depositions outlining local experiences and commentaries as to the problematic nature of their accuracy and later use , resourced with a BBC programme covering 1641 and Cromwell ’ s armies in Ireland in 1649 , I seemed ready to go .
The class was small due to the differentiated nature of the learning needs of the pupils .
Even though the programme contained too many ‘ talking heads ’ , there were graphic visuals illustrating atrocities in Co Armagh and verbal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planters during the violence of 1641 which almost ended the plantation .
We discussed some of the experiences and how the figures became exaggerated beyond the estimated 30,000 affected .
It was then time to move to 1649 and the siege of Drogheda .
When explaining the outcome of the siege and the massacre of the Catholic population , one boy , who had been watching the programme but showed less interest in the written material , gently raised his arm and quietly said : “ Hooray !
” And so a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; in all likelihood for a number of reasons .
The classroom can not itself address the natures of the often contentious frames through which we view the past .
Do we acquire too much of our historical understanding from gable walls , the selective programming to which Mary McAleese alluded and inter-generational congruency that borders on mythology ?
The catalogue of impassioned songs depicting siege heroics and rebellious resistance hardly challenge sealed thoughts and uninterrupted narratives .
Is it these that have contributed to the uncritical orthodoxy and stereotypical labelling that handicaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embrace sharing beyond a linguistic nicety ?
It is a two-way process .
In an episode of Derry Girls when the girls participate in a cross-community school trip the limited views that the ‘ two sides ‘ hold are exaggerated to the point of ridicule ; to challenge through the humour the limitations of contrived interactions .
We can not deny the reality otherwise commentators would not be speaking of unsettled peace , a term once deployed to refer to the ‘ Cold War ’ , as our community and reconciliation sector is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four previous initiatives from 1998 onwards .
Since 1998 , Northern Ireland has moved on a mostly progressive trajectory but with further distance to travel .
Not so long ago , there was an animated discussion as to the low uptake by ‘ Protestant schools ‘ in choosing as a GCSE topic for study , Northern Ireland from 1985 onwards .
Whatever the reasons and there are valid misgivings that the history of the period will only be fully understood following the release of classified materials and the disclosure of individuals bound by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students learn different history and do not share in exploring the experiences of the ‘ other.
’ Canadian historian , Paul Gagnon , wrote that ‘ to study without putting ourselves into the shoes of the ‘ other ’ is an illusion.
’ The inference is that we will see things not as they are but as we are .
The approach to history teaching to which Mary McAleese referred , implying a selective approach to content balanced by any counter-narrative , and underpinned by cultural networks may have met the perceived needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did it promote critical and differentiated analysis free of commodified labelling and categorisation .
Any such limitation is likely to have been repeated across other educational sectors .
The late Mayo Angelou , poet and civil rights activist offers the view that “ history despite its wrenching pain , can not be unlived and if faced with courage , need not be lived again ” Many believe that structural changes in education where pupils learn together in integrated schools will be a boon to addressing long stand division .
While we wait for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ STEM subjects perhaps we should consider Angelou ’ s heartfelt words and consider the real world effects of our curricular content and pedagogy of our humanities .
Photo by PublicDomainPictures is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

On October 22 in a webinar hosted by Trinity Long Room, Dublin, marking the launch of the digitalisation of the 1641 Depositions from victims of the violent events in Ireland at the time, former law academic and President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese stated that during her school days she had never been taught about 1641 and had never heard the history appertaining until she was in her 40s.
The remark, not in any way surprising, prompted memories of teaching the history of the period.
New statutory Programmes of Study for the NI Curriculum, drawn up by working groups, emerged in the 1990s. History teachers were provided with a file of History Units composed of Core topics and a selection of others designed to deliver different approaches to teaching and facilitate the use of existing resources in schools.
One of the Core units, targeted at Year 9, focused on Ireland from the late C16 to the end of the Williamite period; a challenging and demanding task for students and teachers in terms of content and complexity set as it is in a period of intertwined religious rivalry, plantation, Civil War and struggle for power in Europe.
Using copies of depositions outlining local experiences and commentaries as to the problematic nature of their accuracy and later use, resourced with a BBC programme covering 1641 and Cromwell’s armies in Ireland in 1649, I seemed ready to go.
The class was small due to the differentiated nature of the learning needs of the pupils. Even though the programme contained too many ‘talking heads’, there were graphic visuals illustrating atrocities in Co Armagh and verbal accounts of the treatment of the Protestant planters during the violence of 1641 which almost ended the plantation.
We discussed some of the experiences and how the figures became exaggerated beyond the estimated 30,000 affected. It was then time to move to 1649 and the siege of Drogheda. When explaining the outcome of the siege and the massacre of the Catholic population, one boy, who had been watching the programme but showed less interest in the written material, gently raised his arm and quietly said: “Hooray!”
And so a key objective of the lesson was not achieved; in all likelihood for a number of reasons. The classroom cannot itself address the natures of the often contentious frames through which we view the past.
Do we acquire too much of our historical understanding from gable walls, the selective programming to which Mary McAleese alluded and inter-generational congruency that borders on mythology? The catalogue of impassioned songs depicting siege heroics and rebellious resistance hardly challenge sealed thoughts and uninterrupted narratives.
Is it these that have contributed to the uncritical orthodoxy and stereotypical labelling that handicaps our politics and shapes our unwillingness to embrace sharing beyond a linguistic nicety? It is a two-way process.
In an episode of Derry Girls when the girls participate in a cross-community school trip the limited views that the ‘two sides ‘hold are exaggerated to the point of ridicule; to challenge through the humour the limitations of contrived interactions.
We cannot deny the reality otherwise commentators would not be speaking of unsettled peace, a term once deployed to refer to the ‘Cold War’, as our community and reconciliation sector is about to embark on Peace Plus after four previous initiatives from 1998 onwards.
Since 1998, Northern Ireland has moved on a mostly progressive trajectory but with further distance to travel. Not so long ago, there was an animated discussion as to the low uptake by ‘Protestant schools ‘in choosing as a GCSE topic for study, Northern Ireland from 1985 onwards.
Whatever the reasons and there are valid misgivings that the history of the period will only be fully understood following the release of classified materials and the disclosure of individuals bound by sacred oaths, the outcome is that students learn different history and do not share in exploring the experiences of the ‘other.’
Canadian historian, Paul Gagnon, wrote that ‘to study without putting ourselves into the shoes of the ‘other’ is an illusion.’ The inference is that we will see things not as they are but as we are.
The approach to history teaching to which Mary McAleese referred, implying a selective approach to content balanced by any counter-narrative, and underpinned by cultural networks may have met the perceived needs of an ‘imagined community ‘but did it promote critical and differentiated analysis free of commodified labelling and categorisation.
Any such limitation is likely to have been repeated across other educational sectors.
The late Mayo Angelou, poet and civil rights activist offers the view that “history despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived and if faced with courage, need not be lived again” Many believe that structural changes in education where pupils learn together in integrated schools will be a boon to addressing long stand division.
While we wait for this and with a heavy emphasis on STEM subjects perhaps we should consider Angelou’s heartfelt words and consider the real world effects of our curricular content and pedagogy of our humanities.
Photo by PublicDomainPictures is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-01--A Halloween Horror Story – The Old Schoolhouse…

You could just about see the roof of the old building , jutting out from behind a crooked tree , and I never believed my granny when she said that it ’ d once been the parish school – it was tiny .
Barely a bungalow , with a few windows and an outhouse .
Ginger told me that the last year of admissions was 1974 , but that all the local children had gone there… including one in particular .
The Big Man would call into my grandmother ’ s house every morning and sit .
While she often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d invariably give him his place .
He was a farmer man with whom everyone in our parish was acquainted .
Known far and wide for his céilí visits , he ’ d tear ‘ round the roads on his vintage tractor , or call up to her house on a Friday night looking for a lift into town to drink .
Often , he ’ d offer to take a young lad or young lass up the lane with him to cut turf after school , always bringing them home safe with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When she was a child , my own mother recalled how she ’ d actually hear The Big Man ’ s old International going past the window , casting a shadow as she cowered near the curtains .
She looked solemn as she ’ d talk about young Jim Little , nine-years-old , who ’ d be stood on the link box of the tractor , leaning and talking into The Big Man ’ s ear .
They ’ d seen her staring one day and smiled .
The old schoolhouse itself was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a quiet little crossroads , and I ’ d always fly down towards it on my bike .
I loved to hit the flattening curve of the road and push on beyond the junction , where the scenery opened up on a patchwork of fields , grazing goats and distant woodland ; all falling away to the southern horizon .
But the building looked so lonely and troubled , with its crooked and miserable tree standing sentry .
I never liked to slow down .
Ginger often teased me that the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house , and she ’ d dare us to go up to it .
One day I felt brave enough to stop my bike and look .
The sky above was a benign blue , and was streaked with cloudy wisps on that fateful day .
I slipped past the tree and climbed the gate .
I broke the glass .
Smashed all of it .
The heaviness of the pieces clattering inside the empty building felt dangerous , and a terrible excitement grew inside my tummy , and more .
I approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untouched .
It was curiously decorated , with colourful designs and stained glass .
Indeed , the closer I looked , there appeared to be a stylish inscription running along it ; though it was difficult to make out through the grime .
The sunlight of the day still lay at my feet , yet the sky was crudely purple in the curious window .
A harsh white glare seemed to pulse , and a whisper of voices suddenly arose .
But from where ?
As my mind played tricks , a sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I envisaged a swirling mass of black thorns ensnaring me in the reflection , tightening my chest and thundering me closer to the abyss .
I brushed the filth of the glass away , and everything became clear : ‘ Decorative installed by the parish committee of Lisnawery , 1972 .
Dedicated to the memory of Master James Little , Class Five.
’ Was that a movement behind me ?
Stifling a scream , I turned around .
A little red tractor was sat in the middle of the crossroads , purring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Big Man ’ s face was still smiling , but it wore a shroud of death and decay .
He turned off the engine and slowly began to climb down .
A young buck – none other than Jim Little himself !
– simply sat on the link box and stared .
His features weren ’ t ghoulish ; rather , they were lost and nondescript .
Solemn and plain .
The face of a childhood snuffed out .
Photo by Free-Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

You could just about see the roof of the old building, jutting out from behind a crooked tree, and I never believed my granny when she said that it’d once been the parish school – it was tiny. Barely a bungalow, with a few windows and an outhouse. Ginger told me that the last year of admissions was 1974, but that all the local children had gone there… including one in particular.
The Big Man would call into my grandmother’s house every morning and sit. While she often avoided making eye contact, she’d invariably give him his place. He was a farmer man with whom everyone in our parish was acquainted. Known far and wide for his céilí visits, he’d tear ‘round the roads on his vintage tractor, or call up to her house on a Friday night looking for a lift into town to drink. Often, he’d offer to take a young lad or young lass up the lane with him to cut turf after school, always bringing them home safe with sandwiches and tea in their bellies. When she was a child, my own mother recalled how she’d actually hear The Big Man’s old International going past the window, casting a shadow as she cowered near the curtains. She looked solemn as she’d talk about young Jim Little, nine-years-old, who’d be stood on the link box of the tractor, leaning and talking into The Big Man’s ear. They’d seen her staring one day and smiled.
The old schoolhouse itself was down the back of our hill, at a quiet little crossroads, and I’d always fly down towards it on my bike. I loved to hit the flattening curve of the road and push on beyond the junction, where the scenery opened up on a patchwork of fields, grazing goats and distant woodland; all falling away to the southern horizon. But the building looked so lonely and troubled, with its crooked and miserable tree standing sentry. I never liked to slow down.
Ginger often teased me that the old school was really a witch’s house, and she’d dare us to go up to it. One day I felt brave enough to stop my bike and look. The sky above was a benign blue, and was streaked with cloudy wisps on that fateful day. I slipped past the tree and climbed the gate.
I broke the glass. Smashed all of it. The heaviness of the pieces clattering inside the empty building felt dangerous, and a terrible excitement grew inside my tummy, and more. I approached the final window; the last one untouched. It was curiously decorated, with colourful designs and stained glass. Indeed, the closer I looked, there appeared to be a stylish inscription running along it; though it was difficult to make out through the grime.
The sunlight of the day still lay at my feet, yet the sky was crudely purple in the curious window. A harsh white glare seemed to pulse, and a whisper of voices suddenly arose. But from where?
As my mind played tricks, a sense of real and tangible evil became overpowering. I envisaged a swirling mass of black thorns ensnaring me in the reflection, tightening my chest and thundering me closer to the abyss.
I brushed the filth of the glass away, and everything became clear:
‘Decorative installed by the parish committee of Lisnawery, 1972.
Dedicated to the memory of Master James Little, Class Five.’
Was that a movement behind me? Stifling a scream, I turned around. A little red tractor was sat in the middle of the crossroads, purring, and polished to perfection. The Big Man’s face was still smiling, but it wore a shroud of death and decay. He turned off the engine and slowly began to climb down. A young buck – none other than Jim Little himself! – simply sat on the link box and stared. His features weren’t ghoulish; rather, they were lost and nondescript. Solemn and plain. The face of a childhood snuffed out.
I turned and ran.
Photo by Free-Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-01--I forgive nobody. I wish them all an atrocious life in the fires of icy hell…

A bit of gothic from RTÉ for the weekend that ’ s in it .
An extract of Samuel Beckett @ @ @ @ @ , read by Stephen Rea with footage of lockdown Dublin .
Directed by Neil Jordan @ @ @ @ @ licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

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sluggerotoole--2020-11-02--US Election Night; What to look out for…

It ’ s nearly election night .
We are getting ready to see who will win between Donald Trump and Joe Biden .
But , what should we be looking out for ?
When do the polls close ?
Being the public service that we are on Slugger , I have gone through all 50 states and converted the poll closings into British-Irish time .
I have highlighted in yellow the key states and when their polls will be closing .
It ’ s important at this juncture to point out to you that some states count faster than others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster at counting than Virginia or Pennsylvania .
There is also a huge early voting number this year with more than 80 million Americans voting already which will impact the pace of the count as not all states count their pre-poll votes at the same time .
He are the basics , a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win .
If you win a state by even as little as 1 % you get all the electoral votes for that state .
Only Maine and Nebraska allocate their votes by district .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ system but please do not come screaming about the popular vote , this is not what decides the US Presidency and has never done so .
On the popular vote , as is traditional , GOP candidates take an early lead as more rural counties typically report first .
Democrats run up their scores in the big cities which are typically late to the party .
For example , in 2012 , Romney led in Virginia for a huge part of the night but as soon as the more urban areas began reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important thing is that polls don ’ t close at once in the USA .
As you see from the table below , there are more than four rounds of poll closures and sometimes , polls don ’ t close in the one state at the same time .
Florida and Michigan are a case in point .
If you are planning to stay up , you should keep in mind you won ’ t see any real meaningful numbers until after 1am our time .
What you see on election night are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network projections .
The main networks have decision desks which are made up of statisticians and they crunch the numbers based on exit polls and the raw numbers coming in .
The networks cooperate with one another on getting the data and polling right .
Here is how they do it ; In past elections , when the majority of Americans voted on election day in person , U.S. decision desks would lean heavily on exit polls .
These are surveys conducted across the country as voters exit their local polling stations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interview people who voted by mail .
In 2016 , about 40 per cent of Americans voted early or by mail ( split roughly evenly ) .
In this election , estimates put the number of early and mail ballots at well over 80 million .
That could represent more than 60 per cent of the total turnout in 2016 .
That ’ s why Edison Research — which provides data and projections to the National Election Pool ( NEP ) consortium that includes NBC , CNN , ABC and CBS — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s doing in this campaign to get a better idea of what to expect from the mail ballots .
When does someone officially become the winner ?
A lot has been made about Trump not conceding the race .
Yes , it is nice when the losing candidate says something along the lines of “ we worked hard , fought for what we believe in but I congratulate our new president ” but this has no official status on the electoral process .
For example , in 2000 Gore phoned Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2016 , Trump gave his victory speech before Hillary had spoken .
The votes are all counted , they can be challenged , some states if the result is close have recount procedures but they are then certified .
The Electoral College will meet on December 14th 2020 in Washington .
This is presided over by the Vice President and the results are confirmed .
Joe Biden at that moment would be President-Elect officially or Donald Trump would be confirmed for a second term .
Under the Constitution , the 20th amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Biden ” by ekaden is licensed under CC BY-SA “ White House ” by radkuch.13 is licensed under CC BY

It’s nearly election night. We are getting ready to see who will win between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
But, what should we be looking out for? When do the polls close? Being the public service that we are on Slugger, I have gone through all 50 states and converted the poll closings into British-Irish time. I have highlighted in yellow the key states and when their polls will be closing.
It’s important at this juncture to point out to you that some states count faster than others. So Florida is much better and faster at counting than Virginia or Pennsylvania. There is also a huge early voting number this year with more than 80 million Americans voting already which will impact the pace of the count as not all states count their pre-poll votes at the same time.
Basics
He are the basics, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. If you win a state by even as little as 1% you get all the electoral votes for that state. Only Maine and Nebraska allocate their votes by district. You might think this is an odd system but please do not come screaming about the popular vote, this is not what decides the US Presidency and has never done so. On the popular vote, as is traditional, GOP candidates take an early lead as more rural counties typically report first. Democrats run up their scores in the big cities which are typically late to the party. For example, in 2012, Romney led in Virginia for a huge part of the night but as soon as the more urban areas began reporting the state flipped to Obama.
Another important thing is that polls don’t close at once in the USA. As you see from the table below, there are more than four rounds of poll closures and sometimes, polls don’t close in the one state at the same time. Florida and Michigan are a case in point. If you are planning to stay up, you should keep in mind you won’t see any real meaningful numbers until after 1am our time.
Network Projection
What you see on election night are not the official results. They are network projections. The main networks have decision desks which are made up of statisticians and they crunch the numbers based on exit polls and the raw numbers coming in. The networks cooperate with one another on getting the data and polling right. Here is how they do it;
In past elections, when the majority of Americans voted on election day in person, U.S. decision desks would lean heavily on exit polls. These are surveys conducted across the country as voters exit their local polling stations. These are supplemented by standard telephone polling to interview people who voted by mail. In 2016, about 40 per cent of Americans voted early or by mail (split roughly evenly). In this election, estimates put the number of early and mail ballots at well over 80 million. That could represent more than 60 per cent of the total turnout in 2016. That’s why Edison Research — which provides data and projections to the National Election Pool (NEP) consortium that includes NBC, CNN, ABC and CBS — has boosted the amount of telephone polling it’s doing in this campaign to get a better idea of what to expect from the mail ballots.
When does someone officially become the winner?
A lot has been made about Trump not conceding the race. Yes, it is nice when the losing candidate says something along the lines of “we worked hard, fought for what we believe in but I congratulate our new president” but this has no official status on the electoral process. For example, in 2000 Gore phoned Bush to concede and then retracted it. In 2016, Trump gave his victory speech before Hillary had spoken. The votes are all counted, they can be challenged, some states if the result is close have recount procedures but they are then certified.
The Electoral College will meet on December 14th 2020 in Washington. This is presided over by the Vice President and the results are confirmed. Joe Biden at that moment would be President-Elect officially or Donald Trump would be confirmed for a second term.
Under the Constitution, the 20th amendment sets out clearly that;
The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3dday of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
“Trump & Biden” by ekaden is licensed under CC BY-SA
“White House” by radkuch.13 is licensed under CC BY


sluggerotoole--2020-11-02--Enter The Slugger Big American Election Prediction Competition!

Tomorrow is election day in the good old US of A .
Who will win the epic battle of the @ @ @ @ @ Corner , we have Donald John Trump , a man who triumphed over his upbringing @ @ @ @ @ the Blue Corner , we have Joseph Robinette Biden Jr , a newcomer to the @ @ @ @ @ politics this last 50 years .
This is your chance to predict the results of @ @ @ @ @ in with a chance of winning this exclusive Donald Trump Duck !
This duck is @ @ @ @ @ craftsmen .
It is one of a limited edition of only 526,000 .
It will @ @ @ @ @ .
To enter for free just click the button below : “ Trump & Biden @ @ @ @ @ under CC BY-SA

Tomorrow is election day in the good old US of A. Who will win the epic battle of the septuagenarians? In the Red Corner, we have Donald John Trump, a man who triumphed over his upbringing in emotional poverty. In the Blue Corner, we have Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, a newcomer to the scene having been only in politics this last 50 years.
This is your chance to predict the results of this historic clash and be in with a chance of winning this exclusive Donald Trump Duck!
This duck is hand-carved by the finest Chinese craftsmen. It is one of a limited edition of only 526,000. It will be an heirloom to treasure.
To enter for free just click the button below:
“Trump & Biden” by ekaden is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-03--What does behavioural science have to do with safe water interventions?

Over half of the world ’ s population lack safely managed sanitation services , while at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces ( WHO , 2017 ) .
This causes diarrhoeal disease which is responsible for the death of around half a million children under the age of 5 each year ( WHO , 2017 ) .
Without the adequate water , sanitation and hygiene ( WASH ) conditions in place , risks of contamination are everywhere , and practices that pose a risk to health become highly prevalent .
Examples include drinking faecally-contaminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , handling drinking water with dirty hands , or defecating near water sources .
In much of the developed world , the infrastructure is such that water and sanitation are no longer serious problems .
Opening a tap provides instant and almost unlimited access to clean water ; flushing is all we need to do to get rid of bodily waste .
Where the infrastructure is poor or non-inexistent , however , there is a lot of ‘ doing ’ that needs to happen ; water needs to be fetched , boiled ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , often on a daily basis , if illness is to be avoided effectively .
Even when water purifying technologies are available , preventative actions still need to be taken , such as cleaning or fixing the machinery as required , keeping the room clean , handwashing with soap before handling treated water , or using contamination-free cups and containers .
It is when people are expected to take frequent and careful action that trouble arises .
Water and sanitation may not be of concern to you , but imagine if you had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water before you can drink , or if you had to walk and queue every time you needed to use a shared toilet , or if you had to empty a septic tank every so often .
Physical activity and eating habits are likely to be more familiar examples to many of us .
To lead a healthy lifestyle , too , there is not yet a button or tap that we can press or open in order to keep us on the right track with little effort .
To understand why behaviour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of behaviour analysis provides a useful framework .
Behaviours are followed by certain events – consequences – which are a key factor in the study of behaviour .
Certain consequences have a strengthening or reinforcing effect on behaviour ( they are the ‘ reasons ’ why people keep engaging in them ) .
A problem arises when the consequences of certain healthy actions are delayed or not obvious , especially if they can not be seen with the naked eye as in the case of faecally-contaminated water , or indeed COVID-19 .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invisible dangers , and how to reinforce their safe practices , are some of the questions asked in behaviour analytical interventions .
In this presentation , we will talk about the role of the Behaviour Analysis team in SAFEWATER ( grant ref : EP/P032427/1 ; https : //www.safewater-research.com/ ) , a project that brings together researchers from different fields the with aim of developing , implementing and testing low-cost water treatment technologies for rural communities in Mexico and Colombia .
Based at Ulster University ( UU ) , the project is a partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cantaro Azul ) and Colombia ( Universidad de Medellín & Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia ( CTA ) ) and Brasil ( Universidade de São Paulo ) .
Taking part in this presentation will be Samuel Ginja ( UU ) , Ane Galdos ( Cantaro Azul , Mexico & UU ) and Catalina Herrera ( CTA , Colombia & UU ) , who will talk about their work in studying and changing WASH behaviour within SAFEWATER and beyond , and their experience of working in remote rural areas in Latin America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday the 12th of November at 4pm .
Book your free tickets here…

Over half of the world’s population lack safely managed sanitation services, while at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces (WHO, 2017). This causes diarrhoeal disease which is responsible for the death of around half a million children under the age of 5 each year (WHO, 2017). Without the adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in place, risks of contamination are everywhere, and practices that pose a risk to health become highly prevalent. Examples include drinking faecally-contaminated water, storing water in contaminated containers, handling drinking water with dirty hands, or defecating near water sources.
In much of the developed world, the infrastructure is such that water and sanitation are no longer serious problems. Opening a tap provides instant and almost unlimited access to clean water; flushing is all we need to do to get rid of bodily waste. Where the infrastructure is poor or non-inexistent, however, there is a lot of ‘doing’ that needs to happen; water needs to be fetched, boiled (or otherwise treated) and adequately stored, often on a daily basis, if illness is to be avoided effectively. Even when water purifying technologies are available, preventative actions still need to be taken, such as cleaning or fixing the machinery as required, keeping the room clean, handwashing with soap before handling treated water, or using contamination-free cups and containers.
It is when people are expected to take frequent and careful action that trouble arises. Water and sanitation may not be of concern to you, but imagine if you had to continually light a fire and boil water before you can drink, or if you had to walk and queue every time you needed to use a shared toilet, or if you had to empty a septic tank every so often. Physical activity and eating habits are likely to be more familiar examples to many of us. To lead a healthy lifestyle, too, there is not yet a button or tap that we can press or open in order to keep us on the right track with little effort.
To understand why behaviour change is so difficult, the science of behaviour analysis provides a useful framework. Behaviours are followed by certain events – consequences – which are a key factor in the study of behaviour. Certain consequences have a strengthening or reinforcing effect on behaviour (they are the ‘reasons’ why people keep engaging in them). A problem arises when the consequences of certain healthy actions are delayed or not obvious, especially if they cannot be seen with the naked eye as in the case of faecally-contaminated water, or indeed COVID-19. How to ‘remind’ people of those invisible dangers, and how to reinforce their safe practices, are some of the questions asked in behaviour analytical interventions.
In this presentation, we will talk about the role of the Behaviour Analysis team in SAFEWATER (grant ref: EP/P032427/1; https://www.safewater-research.com/), a project that brings together researchers from different fields the with aim of developing, implementing and testing low-cost water treatment technologies for rural communities in Mexico and Colombia. Based at Ulster University (UU), the project is a partnership between academia and NGOs in Mexico (Cantaro Azul) and Colombia (Universidad de Medellín & Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia (CTA)) and Brasil (Universidade de São Paulo). Taking part in this presentation will be Samuel Ginja (UU), Ane Galdos (Cantaro Azul, Mexico & UU) and Catalina Herrera (CTA, Colombia & UU), who will talk about their work in studying and changing WASH behaviour within SAFEWATER and beyond, and their experience of working in remote rural areas in Latin America.
This online presentation will take place on Thursday the 12th of November at 4pm. Book your free tickets here…


sluggerotoole--2020-11-03--Students – when you stick together, your power is huge – and often underestimated.

Almost exactly ten years ago , the student leaders of Queen ’ s University Students ’ Union sat in a meeting room , worried .
As one of the Vice Presidents of the Union at the time , I was among them .
The newly-elected Conservative-Lib Dem coalition was announcing plans to treble university tuition fees from £3,000 a year to £9,000 a year .
We were worrying because we needed to take action on behalf of our student members , but didn ’ t know if they would be with us .
We had come of age at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called a Union General Meeting – a meeting open to all the Union ’ s members – for late October 2010 .
What happened next was astonishing .
We expected a handful of students to turn up .
Instead we ended up with over a thousand students crammed into the Union ’ s Mandela Hall .
It was the biggest Union General Meeting since the dark days of 1988 , when the Gibraltar killings had opened dark divisions on campus .
But this Union General Meeting was an energetic cross-community affair .
Students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland Executive following Westminster in hiking up university fees .
We had ignited something that hadn ’ t happened at Queen ’ s for a generation – a mass student campaign .
After that , things happened quickly .
Huge protests were organised at Stormont and on campus .
We forged new links with lecturer ’ s unions .
We even had the youth wings of the various political parties lobbying their politicians directly .
Smaller student groups staged bold occupations .
We used the upcoming Assembly election in May 2011 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure on every political party .
It was an incredible campaign – yet almost completely forgotten now .
For about a year afterwards , you couldn ’ t walk anywhere around Belfast ’ s student areas without seeing the pink-and-yellow ‘ Stop Education Cuts ’ protest signs adorning student house windows .
Every party was on the fence at first , but one-by-one , students knocked them off it .
All parties were forced by student pressure to rule out an increase in tuition fees .
Since then , fees in Northern Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope they are someday abolished entirely , and free education restored .
Tuition fees for English students were trebled to £9,000 and may go higher .
My research , published today in the Belfast Telegraph , uses Department for the Economy data to show that since 2012 , the freezing of tuition fees in Northern Ireland has saved NI students at least £1.05 billion in tuition fees , compared to English students .
This is huge , and the product of the collective will of thousands of students who acted to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would come after them .
Wherever those thousands of students are in the world now , they should be proud of what they achieved .
Our current politicians should be aware of the sleeping giant they could awake if they attempt to raise fees again – as the First Minister suggested earlier this year .
In these times of COVID-19 hardships at university , with students struggling even more than they were ten years ago , remembering these victories is important .
People power can move mountains .
Students – when you stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and often underestimated .
Adam McGibbon is a writer and campaigner from Belfast , also published in The Guardian , The Independent , The New Statesman and elsewhere .
He was the Vice President of Queen ’ s University Belfast Students ’ Union 2010-12. www.twitter.com/adammcgibbon “ Queen ’ s University of Belfast ” by Iker Merodio | Photography is licensed under CC BY-ND

Almost exactly ten years ago, the student leaders of Queen’s University Students’ Union sat in a meeting room, worried. As one of the Vice Presidents of the Union at the time, I was among them. The newly-elected Conservative-Lib Dem coalition was announcing plans to treble university tuition fees from £3,000 a year to £9,000 a year.
We were worrying because we needed to take action on behalf of our student members, but didn’t know if they would be with us. We had come of age at a time of widespread student apathy. We called a Union General Meeting – a meeting open to all the Union’s members – for late October 2010.
What happened next was astonishing. We expected a handful of students to turn up. Instead we ended up with over a thousand students crammed into the Union’s Mandela Hall.
It was the biggest Union General Meeting since the dark days of 1988, when the Gibraltar killings had opened dark divisions on campus. But this Union General Meeting was an energetic cross-community affair. Students were united against the idea of the Northern Ireland Executive following Westminster in hiking up university fees. We had ignited something that hadn’t happened at Queen’s for a generation – a mass student campaign.
After that, things happened quickly. Huge protests were organised at Stormont and on campus. We forged new links with lecturer’s unions. We even had the youth wings of the various political parties lobbying their politicians directly. Smaller student groups staged bold occupations. We used the upcoming Assembly election in May 2011 to get parents involved too, placing electoral pressure on every political party.
It was an incredible campaign – yet almost completely forgotten now. For about a year afterwards, you couldn’t walk anywhere around Belfast’s student areas without seeing the pink-and-yellow ‘Stop Education Cuts’ protest signs adorning student house windows. Every party was on the fence at first, but one-by-one, students knocked them off it. All parties were forced by student pressure to rule out an increase in tuition fees. Since then, fees in Northern Ireland have increased only with inflation – though I hope they are someday abolished entirely, and free education restored. Tuition fees for English students were trebled to £9,000 and may go higher.
My research, published today in the Belfast Telegraph, uses Department for the Economy data to show that since 2012, the freezing of tuition fees in Northern Ireland has saved NI students at least £1.05 billion in tuition fees, compared to English students. This is huge, and the product of the collective will of thousands of students who acted to stop higher fees being imposed on those who would come after them.
Wherever those thousands of students are in the world now, they should be proud of what they achieved.
Our current politicians should be aware of the sleeping giant they could awake if they attempt to raise fees again – as the First Minister suggested earlier this year.
In these times of COVID-19 hardships at university, with students struggling even more than they were ten years ago, remembering these victories is important. People power can move mountains.
Students – when you stick together, your power is huge – and often underestimated.
Adam McGibbon is a writer and campaigner from Belfast, also published in The Guardian, The Independent, The New Statesman and elsewhere. He was the Vice President of Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union 2010-12. www.twitter.com/adammcgibbon
“Queen’s University of Belfast” by Iker Merodio | Photography is licensed under CC BY-ND


sluggerotoole--2020-11-05--ESRC Virtual Festival – Kids in the Kitchen: Now we’re cookin’

Childhood obesity has reached global epidemic rates and can have a detrimental impact on a child ’ s physical and mental wellbeing , with both dietary behaviours and physical activity levels being implicated in its rise .
We have highlighted the importance of children and adolescents learning cooking skills for diet quality and cooking can be used as one method for changing children ’ s food behaviours .
From a physical perspective , children may not be developing their motor skills ( coordination of their muscle movements ) at a normal rate , which may be influencing their physical activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are an additional element that we have been considering in our cooking research .
We , along with our international collaborators , have been conducting novel initial research integrating different disciplines to understand what age children should be able to conduct the different cooking skills .
From this research , we are creating scientifically underpinned recommendations for age-appropriate cooking skills for children .
Last year we conducted the first of its kind multidisciplinary children ’ s cooking camp in Belfast .
‘ Cook Like A Boss ’ was designed using a co-creative process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human movement scientists , a chef and children .
All recipes were broken down and mapped to children ’ s developmental skills to ensure they were age-appropriate and achievable for the children .
The camp was extremely effective in improving children ’ s perceived cooking competence .
This is an important factor as perceived competence has been shown to be a predictor for behaviour and increasing perceived competence may lead to an increase in the behaviour , i.e .
cooking in this case .
An additional indicator of the success of the camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the camp , with 100 % of children finding the camp enjoyable or extremely enjoyable and wanting to take part in a similar camp again .
However , one interesting finding from the camp was that children who took part in the camp actually reduced their levels of agreement that one of their favourite parts of cooking was spending time with a parent .
In our adult research , we have found that parents are nervous about having children in the kitchen and that their busy schedules mean they have limited time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We were not able to run our camps this year due to COVID-19 and funding .
COVID-19 has led to a lot more people working from home and looking for ways to entertain their children .
So this could be a great opportunity to try some cooking with your children and we have just the event to get you started !
As part of the ESRC NI Festival of Social Science , we are providing access to a pre-recorded parent-child cooking class being led by Chef Jeffers from Forestside Cookery School .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our investigation to see whether an online class can be used to increase children ’ s cooking competence .
And your child has the chance to submit an entry to win a Children ’ s Cooking party for 12 children at Forestside Cookery School as well as lots of other prizes .
Sign up now to get access to the class and take part in this exciting study .
The recording will be available from 7-15 November .
Dr Fiona Lavelle is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Global Food Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading international multidisciplinary research in children cooking .
You can follow her on twitter .
Photo by severyanka is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Childhood obesity has reached global epidemic rates and can have a detrimental impact on a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, with both dietary behaviours and physical activity levels being implicated in its rise. We have highlighted the importance of children and adolescents learning cooking skills for diet quality and cooking can be used as one method for changing children’s food behaviours.
From a physical perspective, children may not be developing their motor skills (coordination of their muscle movements) at a normal rate, which may be influencing their physical activity levels. Children’s motor capacities are an additional element that we have been considering in our cooking research. We, along with our international collaborators, have been conducting novel initial research integrating different disciplines to understand what age children should be able to conduct the different cooking skills. From this research, we are creating scientifically underpinned recommendations for age-appropriate cooking skills for children.
Last year we conducted the first of its kind multidisciplinary children’s cooking camp in Belfast. ‘Cook Like A Boss’ was designed using a co-creative process including Home Economists, health researchers, human movement scientists, a chef and children. All recipes were broken down and mapped to children’s developmental skills to ensure they were age-appropriate and achievable for the children.
The camp was extremely effective in improving children’s perceived cooking competence. This is an important factor as perceived competence has been shown to be a predictor for behaviour and increasing perceived competence may lead to an increase in the behaviour, i.e. cooking in this case. An additional indicator of the success of the camp was the children’s reaction to the camp, with 100% of children finding the camp enjoyable or extremely enjoyable and wanting to take part in a similar camp again. However, one interesting finding from the camp was that children who took part in the camp actually reduced their levels of agreement that one of their favourite parts of cooking was spending time with a parent.
In our adult research, we have found that parents are nervous about having children in the kitchen and that their busy schedules mean they have limited time to include their children in everyday meal preparation. We were not able to run our camps this year due to COVID-19 and funding.
COVID-19 has led to a lot more people working from home and looking for ways to entertain their children. So this could be a great opportunity to try some cooking with your children and we have just the event to get you started!
As part of the ESRC NI Festival of Social Science, we are providing access to a pre-recorded parent-child cooking class being led by Chef Jeffers from Forestside Cookery School. You and your child can be part of our investigation to see whether an online class can be used to increase children’s cooking competence. And your child has the chance to submit an entry to win a Children’s Cooking party for 12 children at Forestside Cookery School as well as lots of other prizes.
Sign up now to get access to the class and take part in this exciting study. The recording will be available from 7-15 November.
Dr Fiona Lavelle is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, leading international multidisciplinary research in children cooking. You can follow her on twitter.
Photo by severyanka is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-03--Slugger’s US Election Live Blog 2020…

Slugger’s US Election Live Blog 2020…

Mick is founding editor of Slugger .
He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and @ @ @ @ @ a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland , the UK and Europe .
Twitter @ @ @


sluggerotoole--2020-11-05--Trump demands ‘Stop the count!'(whatever that means)…

We have not had many posts about the US Election as frankly , we are as stunned by it all as the rest of you probably are .
Game of Thrones could not come up with storylines as bonkers as we are seeing unfold in the states .
The tension is phenomenal , I am obsessively checking the New York Times homepage .
The latest twist is Trump demanding they stop the count : Like most things about Trump , this statement does not make any sense .
Biden is ahead in the popular vote and electoral college votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Stop the count ’ while other Trump supporters in other locations chant ‘ Count the vote ’ .
Meanwhile , Trump ’ s personal Spiritual Advisor has been conducting a prayer service .
Turn on your speakers and pump up the volume !
Angels are being dispatched right now !
I hear the sound of victory !
Biden seems on course to win but frankly , anything is possible .
Stay tuned , this show is far from over .
Now this is not the end .
It is not even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , perhaps , the end of the beginning .
Winston Churchill “ “ is this year really HAPPEN-ing ?
© ” scott richard ” by torbakhopper is licensed under CC BY-ND

We have not had many posts about the US Election as frankly, we are as stunned by it all as the rest of you probably are. Game of Thrones could not come up with storylines as bonkers as we are seeing unfold in the states.
The tension is phenomenal, I am obsessively checking the New York Times homepage. The latest twist is Trump demanding they stop the count:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1324353932022480896?s=20
Like most things about Trump, this statement does not make any sense. Biden is ahead in the popular vote and electoral college votes.
We have Trump supporters in Michigan demanding ‘Stop the count’ while other Trump supporters in other locations chant ‘Count the vote’.
Meanwhile, Trump’s personal Spiritual Advisor has been conducting a prayer service. Turn on your speakers and pump up the volume! Angels are being dispatched right now! I hear the sound of victory!
Presidential spiritual adviser Paula White is currently leading an impassioned prayer service in an effort to secure Trump's reelection. We have added a techno beat SOUND ON #USElectionResults #USElections #USElection #USElections2020 #STOPTHECOUNT #EricTrump pic.twitter.com/lYjObBqZBt — The London Economic (@LondonEconomic) November 5, 2020
Biden seems on course to win but frankly, anything is possible. Stay tuned, this show is far from over.
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. Winston Churchill
““is this year really HAPPEN-ing?©” scott richard” by torbakhopper is licensed under CC BY-ND


sluggerotoole--2020-11-06--To become president, Biden needs to win two out of Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada and Georgia or wi

To become president, Biden needs to win two out of Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada and Georgia or win Pennsylvania…

The glacial pace of the US Election count continues , but the end might be in sight today .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ Georgia and is drawing closer to overtaking Trump in Pennsylvania .
Hopefully today we should @ @ @ @ @ knows , this election has had so many twists and turns .
Meanwhile , Trump @ @ @ @ @ in defeat by holding a press conference that was so full of lies that most @ @ @ @ @ Things are so weird Trump supporters have even turned their back on Fox News .
@ @ @ @ @ are still hoping for divine intervention : The crystal ball award goes to Bernie Saunders @ @ @ @ @ ago : If the tension is getting too much for you how about some painting @ @ @ @ @ you for a while ?
“ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under @ @

The glacial pace of the US Election count continues, but the end might be in sight today. Biden has taken the lead in Georgia and is drawing closer to overtaking Trump in Pennsylvania. Hopefully today we should see a winner but who knows, this election has had so many twists and turns.
JUST IN: Joe Biden takes +1097 lead in #Georgia over Donald Trump. If he wins Southern state, would block Trump’s path to 270. https://t.co/p7sxQ8Y0A0 — Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) November 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Trump is showing his usual dignity in defeat by holding a press conference that was so full of lies that most networks cut him off.
Video: MSNBC only makes it 35 seconds into President Trump's White House remarks before not only bailing out to chastise him as a liar, but quit the press conference entirely to move on and interview the Arizona Secretary of State. pic.twitter.com/400PeK6XBv — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 5, 2020
Things are so weird Trump supporters have even turned their back on Fox News. Meanwhile, some Trump supporters are still hoping for divine intervention:
https://twitter.com/needtocalmclown/status/1324676371021529089?s=20
The crystal ball award goes to Bernie Saunders who predicted this farce weeks ago:
This is Bernie Sanders ten days ago on Jimmy Fallon. There is still a tremendous amount of an uncounted votes. Stay strong 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/PV5evUyAKT — MAC (@NotMaac) November 4, 2020
If the tension is getting too much for you how about some painting of Catholic cardinals to distract you for a while?
I absolutely love these paintings of Catholic cardinals engaged in various mundane activities. pic.twitter.com/PflTHOAK9S — Marina Amaral (@marinamaral2) November 6, 2020
“Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-06--ESRC Virtual Festival – Difficult conversations: when complaint communication falls short of patient

ESRC Virtual Festival – Difficult conversations: when complaint communication falls short of patient expectations…

In 2019/20 , HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland received a total of 4,370 complaints , relating to 6,105 complaint issues .
This equates to 84 complaints per week or approximately 12 complaints per day .
Complaints about healthcare can be a positive ; they can resolve problems for patients in the short term and in the longer term , they can help to improve services for other patients .
However , if a complaint goes badly and a patient takes legal action , it is both costly for the NHS and stressful for the patient .
So what makes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it isn ’ t the seriousness of the medical error .
What matters is how the error is dealt with and the communication that follows with the patient or their family .
For example , in a case in Australia , eleven patients were given a contaminated solution injected into the heart during surgery .
Five of the patients died .
But none of the families took legal action because of the sincerity of the Chief Executive ’ s apology and the way he communicated his commitment to investigating what went wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of open and honest communication was a recurring theme in the 2018 report on the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia Related Deaths ( IHRD ) , in which a significant proportion of the 96 recommendations relate either directly or indirectly to issues of communication .
Justice O ’ Hara ’ s report acknowledges policy developments at all levels which recognise the importance of good communication , but nonetheless concludes that “ familiar problems ” remain .
The challenge is that policies tend to focus on systems and procedures .
Although the goals of communication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empathy , understanding ) , they are often not met because there is not enough understanding of how to achieve those goals .
As Justice O ’ Hara succinctly notes : “ it must be recognised that a list does not equip staff to manage difficult conversations with empathy and credibility .
Successful interaction at times of distress is difficult ” .
The Real Complaints project , based at Ulster University in collaboration with colleagues from the universities of Stirling , Queen Margaret and Loughborough , addresses this challenge .
Our pilot study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collection of initial calls made by patients wishing to make a complaint .
What emerges very clearly from those calls is that there is no simple prescription for achieving the “ empathy and credibility ” that O ’ Hara notes is so essential .
Complaints handlers have the very difficult task of juggling the institutional requirements for effective complaints investigation with the significant interpersonal and emotional needs of the communication with the caller .
Our research shows that “ successful interaction at times of distress ” is not simply a matter of expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to tell their story .
They want to express the impact of their experience of what went wrong and know that they have been properly heard and taken seriously .
Detailed analysis of our data shows how this can be achieved with responses that express factual or emotional understanding of what the caller is saying .
However , our analysis also shows that it is not just the nature of the responses that a complaints handler gives but also the timing of these different responses that can make the difference between escalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ongoing Real Complaints research will analyse patients ’ experiences of these “ difficult conversations ” throughout the complaints journey from initial contact through to when the complaint is closed by both patient and Trust .
Understanding the patient experience of complaints communication is important because as O ’ Hara notes of the families involved in the IHRD : “ all could have given invaluable advice about how not to communicate.
” Talking matters : the social power of language takes place on Tue , November 10 , 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here to view all events in the ESRC Virtual Festival .
Photo by sasint is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Catrin S Rhys (Ulster University), Bethan Benwell (Stirling University) & Jack B. Joyce (Ulster University)
Real Complaints: www.realcomplaints.org
In 2019/20, HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland received a total of 4,370 complaints, relating to 6,105 complaint issues. This equates to 84 complaints per week or approximately 12 complaints per day. Complaints about healthcare can be a positive; they can resolve problems for patients in the short term and in the longer term, they can help to improve services for other patients. However, if a complaint goes badly and a patient takes legal action, it is both costly for the NHS and stressful for the patient.
So what makes a patient resort to legal action? Surprisingly, it isn’t the seriousness of the medical error. What matters is how the error is dealt with and the communication that follows with the patient or their family. For example, in a case in Australia, eleven patients were given a contaminated solution injected into the heart during surgery. Five of the patients died. But none of the families took legal action because of the sincerity of the Chief Executive’s apology and the way he communicated his commitment to investigating what went wrong.
Here in Northern Ireland, the importance of open and honest communication was a recurring theme in the 2018 report on the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia Related Deaths (IHRD), in which a significant proportion of the 96 recommendations relate either directly or indirectly to issues of communication. Justice O’Hara’s report acknowledges policy developments at all levels which recognise the importance of good communication, but nonetheless concludes that “familiar problems” remain.
The challenge is that policies tend to focus on systems and procedures. Although the goals of communication are identified (e.g. apology, empathy, understanding), they are often not met because there is not enough understanding of how to achieve those goals. As Justice O’Hara succinctly notes: “it must be recognised that a list does not equip staff to manage difficult conversations with empathy and credibility. Successful interaction at times of distress is difficult”.
The Real Complaints project, based at Ulster University in collaboration with colleagues from the universities of Stirling, Queen Margaret and Loughborough, addresses this challenge. Our pilot study (Benwell & Rhys) analysed a collection of initial calls made by patients wishing to make a complaint. What emerges very clearly from those calls is that there is no simple prescription for achieving the “empathy and credibility” that O’Hara notes is so essential. Complaints handlers have the very difficult task of juggling the institutional requirements for effective complaints investigation with the significant interpersonal and emotional needs of the communication with the caller.
Our research shows that “successful interaction at times of distress” is not simply a matter of expressing sympathy. The callers in our data want to tell their story. They want to express the impact of their experience of what went wrong and know that they have been properly heard and taken seriously. Detailed analysis of our data shows how this can be achieved with responses that express factual or emotional understanding of what the caller is saying. However, our analysis also shows that it is not just the nature of the responses that a complaints handler gives but also the timing of these different responses that can make the difference between escalation of the complaint or a positive resolution.
Ongoing Real Complaints research will analyse patients’ experiences of these “difficult conversations” throughout the complaints journey from initial contact through to when the complaint is closed by both patient and Trust. Understanding the patient experience of complaints communication is important because as O’Hara notes of the families involved in the IHRD: “all could have given invaluable advice about how not to communicate.”
Talking matters: the social power of language takes place on Tue, November 10, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Register for free here…
Click here to view all events in the ESRC Virtual Festival.
Photo by sasint is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-06--How the “Derry Model” has become something of a muddle…

In October 2002 , Bishop Kenneth Good , Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe , spoke of Unionist ‘ alienation and insecurity ’ and pointed to a community feeling frozen out .
Young people from a Unionist background regarded the ‘ West bank ’ as a ‘ no-go area ’ .
Parents and older family members , drawing on experiences of violence , destruction of businesses and the murder of friends and relatives , no longer felt any close association with a home city lacking inclusivity and respect for diversity .
Many of those who had been born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Foyle , having re-located during the years 1969-1975 , shopped elsewhere .
Schools and churches experienced decline and , in some instances , closed .
In 2018 , the release of classified records showed that in 1993 the development of a ‘ segregated city ’ was a growing problem .
The ‘ plight ’ of the Protestant minority in Londonderry ’ s Cityside was raised by Mark Durkan senior , then an SDLP Derry City councillor .
Mr Durkan spoke of being concerned at Protestants ’ sense of being ‘ isolated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protestants had left to cross the river .
Concern was expressed that the overwhelmingly ‘ nationalist ethos ’ of the city had been a continuing factor as violence reduced ; that of those who stayed , most were older individuals who lacked effective representation .
The problem deepened as protests at parades hardened divisions in the city .
Eventually , with parading organisations and resident groups seeking resolution and prompted by business and police , talks began which led to the resumption of parades but expediency on all sides did not lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Significant change did not begin until 2011 prompted by Building Confidence : Ways to Support Protestant Participation and Inclusion in the North West commissioned by community representatives of the PUL constituency .
The Report presented timely research as another initiative , Gateway to Protestant Participation , was underway .
These came together as fresh leadership was emerging .
Wide-ranging recommendations emerged and served to stimulate action around these including : o Lack of sustained and collaborative capacity-building ; and o A decline in confidence in Protestant political leadership .
In response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an alternative leadership .
This led to the formation of the Londonderry Bands Forum .
Initially 2 bands showed interest , but by 2013 the Forum had grown to 14 and acquired funding from IFI to appoint a full-time co-ordinator .
Initially focused on ‘ challenging misconceptions about bands ’ , dialogue and cultural expression , the Forum promoted understanding of the role the pro-Union constituency could play in shaping a better future for all .
Prepared to take risks , the co-ordinator delivered a presentation at a Sinn Fein ArdFheis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK City of Culture and the All-Ireland Fleadh , engaged in what others described as difficult conversations , collaborated in numerous cross-community cultural projects , led the way on parades management and engaged in bonfire issues .
In all of this , the Forum remained unaligned with any political party .
In 2015 , the Bands Forum joined with 5 cultural partners to form the North -West Cultural Partnership .
This pooling of cultural leadership energised positive development in terms of cultural expression , community re-generation and reconciliation .
Adhering to principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a shared home , the partnership delivers accredited educational programmes and courses , a Fringe Festival of music , debate and drama , Decade of Centenaries publications and a variety of programmes aimed at upskilling , fitness and health issues .
Keeping to its position on inclusivity and collaboration , peace programmes , cultural tourism initiatives and projects shared with Gaelic Language centres and joint cross-cultural events have been delivered within the community .
Young people have benefitted as life has changed .
Political representatives have had little input into the developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement in the cultural and social environment as a ‘ Derry Model showcasing the city as a place where contentious issues and how they are addressed eliminate tension and division .
Yet , the notion of such a model is seen as over-heated and not as robust as presented .
Recently this has proven to be the case .
Politics has been at the centre .
At a recent meeting , the DCSDC Council adopted a proposal which described partition as an ‘ injustice ’ and took a stance , described as ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any ‘ event celebrating or commemorating the partition of Ireland.
’ All of the independents , SDLP and Sinn Fein members voted for the proposal even though the SDLP had supported an earlier motion to seek funds to facilitate organisations which wished to commemorate the foundation of Northern Ireland .
The DUP were quick to cry ‘ foul ’ and the Derry Model has become something of a muddle .
In his recent book , ‘ Secret Life of a Special Adviser ’ , Peter Cardwell refers to his time in NI with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people here go ‘ out of their way to be offended ‘ and may have a point , but the situation in Derry goes beyond offence in that it raises matters of equality and parity of esteem .
The board of NWCP has stepped up to point to the ‘ inappropriate actions ’ of the Council and is reviewing its participation in Peace Programmes until the matter is reviewed and the consequences addressed .
Basing its preliminary planning for the NI Centenary around ‘ Celebration , Reconciliation and Reflection ’ it is surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any consultation , from a considered , sensitive and inclusive approach .
It also views the stance of the Council as political rather than corporate and in breach of the principles of Good Relations , Section 75 , Together Building a United Community and New Decade , New Approach with regards to culture , heritage and identity .
The public silence of parties on the Council suggest that the case may have some validity .
With Peace Plus on the horizon , its reliance on cross-community buy-in and the economic , social and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a situation in need of speedy resolution .
To borrow from the LAKOTA , ‘ the left and the right wing are part of the same bird ‘ .
Careless words may no longer cost lives but they can undermine the fragility in relations .
Our politicians at all levels need to choose words and measure actions against criteria to which they have signed up .
Derry is not a nationalist city .
It is shared and the muddle of the Derry Model needs to be sorted .
“ DERRY GIRL ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
CHRIST ] -158039 ” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA

In October 2002, Bishop Kenneth Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, spoke of Unionist ‘alienation and insecurity’ and pointed to a community feeling frozen out. Young people from a Unionist background regarded the ‘West bank’ as a ‘no-go area’.
Parents and older family members, drawing on experiences of violence, destruction of businesses and the murder of friends and relatives, no longer felt any close association with a home city lacking inclusivity and respect for diversity.
Many of those who had been born and lived on the city side of the Foyle, having re-located during the years 1969-1975, shopped elsewhere. Schools and churches experienced decline and, in some instances, closed.
In 2018, the release of classified records showed that in 1993 the development of a ‘segregated city’ was a growing problem. The ‘plight’ of the Protestant minority in Londonderry’s Cityside was raised by Mark Durkan senior, then an SDLP Derry City councillor.
Mr Durkan spoke of being concerned at Protestants’ sense of being ‘isolated and marginalised’; that close to 18,000 Protestants had left to cross the river. Concern was expressed that the overwhelmingly ‘nationalist ethos’ of the city had been a continuing factor as violence reduced; that of those who stayed, most were older individuals who lacked effective representation.
The problem deepened as protests at parades hardened divisions in the city. Eventually, with parading organisations and resident groups seeking resolution and prompted by business and police, talks began which led to the resumption of parades but expediency on all sides did not lead to any strong sense of reconciliation or transformation.
Significant change did not begin until 2011 prompted by Building Confidence: Ways to Support Protestant Participation and Inclusion in the North West commissioned by community representatives of the PUL constituency. The Report presented timely research as another initiative, Gateway to Protestant Participation, was underway.
These came together as fresh leadership was emerging. Wide-ranging recommendations emerged and served to stimulate action around these including:
o Lack of sustained and collaborative capacity-building; and
o A decline in confidence in Protestant political leadership.
In response to the last of these the community looked to an alternative leadership. This led to the formation of the Londonderry Bands Forum. Initially 2 bands showed interest, but by 2013 the Forum had grown to 14 and acquired funding from IFI to appoint a full-time co-ordinator.
Initially focused on ‘challenging misconceptions about bands’, dialogue and cultural expression, the Forum promoted understanding of the role the pro-Union constituency could play in shaping a better future for all.
Prepared to take risks, the co-ordinator delivered a presentation at a Sinn Fein ArdFheis, the forum played a positive role in the UK City of Culture and the All-Ireland Fleadh, engaged in what others described as difficult conversations, collaborated in numerous cross-community cultural projects, led the way on parades management and engaged in bonfire issues.
In all of this, the Forum remained unaligned with any political party.
In 2015, the Bands Forum joined with 5 cultural partners to form the North -West Cultural Partnership. This pooling of cultural leadership energised positive development in terms of cultural expression, community re-generation and reconciliation.
Adhering to principles of respect for cultural diversity, dialogue and a shared home, the partnership delivers accredited educational programmes and courses, a Fringe Festival of music, debate and drama, Decade of Centenaries publications and a variety of programmes aimed at upskilling, fitness and health issues.
Keeping to its position on inclusivity and collaboration, peace programmes, cultural tourism initiatives and projects shared with Gaelic Language centres and joint cross-cultural events have been delivered within the community. Young people have benefitted as life has changed.
Political representatives have had little input into the developments but have led the branding of the improvement in the cultural and social environment as a ‘Derry Model showcasing the city as a place where contentious issues and how they are addressed eliminate tension and division.
Yet, the notion of such a model is seen as over-heated and not as robust as presented.
Recently this has proven to be the case. Politics has been at the centre. At a recent meeting, the DCSDC Council adopted a proposal which described partition as an ‘injustice’ and took a stance, described as ‘corporate ‘that it would not support any ‘event celebrating or commemorating the partition of Ireland.’
All of the independents, SDLP and Sinn Fein members voted for the proposal even though the SDLP had supported an earlier motion to seek funds to facilitate organisations which wished to commemorate the foundation of Northern Ireland. The DUP were quick to cry ‘foul’ and the Derry Model has become something of a muddle.
In his recent book,‘Secret Life of a Special Adviser’, Peter Cardwell refers to his time in NI with James Brokenshire MP and his experience that people here go ‘out of their way to be offended ‘and may have a point, but the situation in Derry goes beyond offence in that it raises matters of equality and parity of esteem.
The board of NWCP has stepped up to point to the ‘inappropriate actions’ of the Council and is reviewing its participation in Peace Programmes until the matter is reviewed and the consequences addressed. Basing its preliminary planning for the NI Centenary around ‘Celebration, Reconciliation and Reflection’ it is surprised that Council is distancing itself, without any consultation, from a considered, sensitive and inclusive approach.
It also views the stance of the Council as political rather than corporate and in breach of the principles of Good Relations, Section 75, Together Building a United Community and New Decade, New Approach with regards to culture, heritage and identity.
The public silence of parties on the Council suggest that the case may have some validity. With Peace Plus on the horizon, its reliance on cross-community buy-in and the economic, social and political benefits which can accrue, it is a situation in need of speedy resolution.
To borrow from the LAKOTA, ‘the left and the right wing are part of the same bird ‘. Careless words may no longer cost lives but they can undermine the fragility in relations. Our politicians at all levels need to choose words and measure actions against criteria to which they have signed up.
Derry is not a nationalist city. It is shared and the muddle of the Derry Model needs to be sorted.
“DERRY GIRL’S SISTER MICHAEL SAYS [ANOTHER HOTEL? CHRIST]-158039” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-11-07--The bizarre world of the US electoral system…

We have all become obsessed with the US election coverage this week and the glacial pace of counting .
With still no final decision I thought we could look at the rather strange system they have .
The first oddity is the fact that the person who gets the most votes does not necessarily win – it all comes down to the electoral college .
There have been five United States presidential elections in which the successful presidential candidate did not receive the most votes .
In today ’ s Irish Times Patrick Smyth gives some background to the Electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for electing presidents – from the Middle Ages until 1792 , leaders of the Holy Roman Empire were also elected by a college of prince-electors from German states – was forced through as a “ compromise ” by James Madison and slave-owning Southern state leaders in the constitutional convention in 1787 as a means or guaranteeing their continuing rule .
It was justified , irony of ironies , as an anti-populist mechanism to screen the presidential election from the vagaries of Northern-backed direct election by the ignorant masses .
Crucially , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose numbers were determined by reference to the size of state delegations in the House of Representatives , was calculated on the basis that a slave was only three-fifths of a free man .
The “ compromise ” ensured that Southern states , their white “ majorities ” copperfastened , would ratify the constitution , and gave Virginia , home to more than 200,000 slaves , a quarter of the total electoral votes required to win the presidency .
Even with the Electoral College system , you would think States would allocate votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state had ten Electoral College votes , and 60 % of people in that state voted for Biden and 40 % voted for Trump you would think they would then give 6 Electoral College votes to Biden and 4 to Trump .
But no : apart from Maine and Nebraska all the states are first past the post systems .
This is why we are seeing the painfully slow process of checking every vote in the last remaining states .
The system is so crazy that it is estimated only 40,000 votes across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose the 2016 Election .
You may remember Clinton got 2.87 million more votes than Trump did .
Also writing in today ’ s Irish Times Fintan O ’ Toole makes this point : The US “ system of governance ” is minority rule .
It was designed to exclude women , black people and Native Americans .
A universal right to vote was only really conceded in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 , and that was a result , not of the benevolence of the system , but of the heroic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And that Act was gutted in 2013 by a Republican-dominated supreme court .
The Senate , which will most probably be able to thwart most of what Biden is being elected to do as president , is a bulwark of minority power , giving the same number of seats to California ’ s heavily Democratic 40 million people as to Wyoming ’ s heavily Republican half a million .
This imbalance is becoming steadily more grotesque as the population shifts : by 2040 about 70 per cent of Americans will be represented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now largely a liberal majority , but the system has been rigged to overexert the influence of conservatives .
As you can imagine Republicans have no interest in changing this strange state of affairs .
“ US Capitol at Night ” by John Brighenti is licensed under CC BY

We have all become obsessed with the US election coverage this week and the glacial pace of counting. With still no final decision I thought we could look at the rather strange system they have.
The first oddity is the fact that the person who gets the most votes does not necessarily win – it all comes down to the electoral college. There have been five United States presidential elections in which the successful presidential candidate did not receive the most votes.
In today’s Irish Times Patrick Smyth gives some background to the Electoral College system:
This almost unique mechanism for electing presidents – from the Middle Ages until 1792, leaders of the Holy Roman Empire were also elected by a college of prince-electors from German states – was forced through as a “compromise” by James Madison and slave-owning Southern state leaders in the constitutional convention in 1787 as a means or guaranteeing their continuing rule. It was justified, irony of ironies, as an anti-populist mechanism to screen the presidential election from the vagaries of Northern-backed direct election by the ignorant masses. Crucially, in the early years representation in the college, whose numbers were determined by reference to the size of state delegations in the House of Representatives, was calculated on the basis that a slave was only three-fifths of a free man. The “compromise” ensured that Southern states, their white “majorities” copperfastened, would ratify the constitution, and gave Virginia, home to more than 200,000 slaves, a quarter of the total electoral votes required to win the presidency.
Even with the Electoral College system, you would think States would allocate votes proportionately. For example, if a state had ten Electoral College votes, and 60% of people in that state voted for Biden and 40% voted for Trump you would think they would then give 6 Electoral College votes to Biden and 4 to Trump. But no: apart from Maine and Nebraska all the states are first past the post systems. This is why we are seeing the painfully slow process of checking every vote in the last remaining states. The system is so crazy that it is estimated only 40,000 votes across a few states caused Hilary Clinton to lose the 2016 Election. You may remember Clinton got 2.87 million more votes than Trump did.
Also writing in today’s Irish Times Fintan O’Toole makes this point:
The US “system of governance” is minority rule. It was designed to exclude women, black people and Native Americans. A universal right to vote was only really conceded in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and that was a result, not of the benevolence of the system, but of the heroic struggles of the Civil Rights movement. And that Act was gutted in 2013 by a Republican-dominated supreme court. The Senate, which will most probably be able to thwart most of what Biden is being elected to do as president, is a bulwark of minority power, giving the same number of seats to California’s heavily Democratic 40 million people as to Wyoming’s heavily Republican half a million. This imbalance is becoming steadily more grotesque as the population shifts: by 2040 about 70 per cent of Americans will be represented by 30 per cent of senators.
America is now largely a liberal/moderate majority, but the system has been rigged to overexert the influence of conservatives. As you can imagine Republicans have no interest in changing this strange state of affairs.
“US Capitol at Night” by John Brighenti is licensed under CC BY