Popular vote was a good idea that worked until the electoral college took over and robbed the people of their voice.
Read a history book. America has never had the popular vote. Since 1787 the electoral college has chosen the presidents of the united states, and they were directed first by the state's legislative branch until the mid-1800's when the people's votes were intended to take over in most states. The primary reason was improved infrastructure, which led to supposedly a more educated population able to hear news and have their votes collected at a speed yet to be dreamed of at the birth of the nation. That we have progressed even further than that to the point where nearly every american has access to news and education is a different matter, and some (though not I) would argue that american's desire not only to ignore their rights to news and education but also to still form strong opinions based on excessively little information is actually a reason to go back to the legislature method.
as for everything "evening out" - that is precisely the problem. when popular parties have a fairly even split, it's the most outspoken radical group that tends to make the difference. That is how (in extreme paraphrase) many nations end up with governments that do not necessarily represent them well at all, for better of for worse.
Iraq is its own problem at this point, caused by us but kept by them, or at least that is the popular (unanimous) opinion of my immigrant friends. Several of them are here because they helped the US in 2003-2004 and were rewarded with hatred from both sides. At this point Americans seem to do more harm than good in terms of the national philosophy, despite all efforts. Sure, the surge tightened our hold on the country and reduced violence, but that kind of pressure only hides conflict rather than solving it.