Rigged System

   The candidate claims the system is rigged against him, and that's why he could lose in November.
   Yes, the system is indeed "rigged." It is arranged in such a way as to prevent demagogues, dictators and incipient tyrants from taking over the government.
   Those who wrote the Constitution of the United States of America knew the dangers of a too-powerful leader of a government, so they set things up so there would be three independent, separate and equal branches of government, with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from attaining too much power.
   Some have tried, and it can be argued that some have come close to succeeding. But the system is set up so that no demagogue can become President simply by a plurality of votes. Instead, each state chooses electors, who then meet to select a President.
   Later, if the person selected perpetrates any "treason, high crimes or misdemeanors," that person can be impeached by the House of Representatives, then face trial by the full Senate, presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
   Only two Presidents have been impeached -- Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton -- but neither was convicted. A House committee approved articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon, but he resigned before the full House voted on the document, so he was not impeached or convicted.
   
   This year, citizens of America are asked to choose a man who insists the system is rigged against him, and the only way he can lose is if the other side cheats.
   A hundred years ago, such antics may have worked on a local or a major city level, and even in a few states, but not even Tammany Hall could do it nationally.
   
   So yes, Donald, the system is "rigged," and you are very likely to lose. Not because of cheating, but because the system works, and has worked quite well for more than 200 years.