The central idea of this paragraph is that there is a belief that the current system of choosing Presidents through the Electoral College is outdated and that Presidents should be chosen by direct election instead. The paragraph explains that currently, state electors vote for the candidate that the people selected in the general election during state conventions, but they are not necessarily bound to do so. This suggests that there is a potential for the electors to deviate from the will of the people and raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the current system.