Column 61 for November 26, 2000

Politics, who could resist writing about it again? I guess the only way to see who is going to become our next president is to show up in Washington next January 20^th and see who is sworn in. I have to teach that week, so the best I can do is tune into CNN.

Seems like most of the fuss lately has been about ballots and "chads" and whom someone intended to vote for. I correspond regularly with people in Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, and Aruba. They’re laughing at us! Even the Netherlands votes completely via computer. Not the Internet, but computer controlled voting machines at each polling place. Sure, there’s room for scams, but no worse than here. At least their votes are definitive. We might be better off to have pictures of our candidates and circle our choice with a large orange crayon!

I do know that when I voted here in Carrollton, there was no eraser in the booth. No one mentioned to me that I might request a new ballot if I accidentally darkened in the wrong candidate. How many people would be embarrassed to ask for a new ballot even if they knew they had that option? No, erasers are not the answer. Then, on a recount, there would be endless debates about which little circle was darkest. Maybe we should take a few lessons from the people that make the SAT test. You get your score and that’s it!

There have been many discussions about the "Electoral College." Even though "my" favorite candidate has the most popular votes, I’m a fan of the Electoral College, regardless of who wins. Our president should be decided this way. The way I understand our history, our country was founded as a republic and not a democracy. I can buy a "democratic republic" but a pure democracy means the majority rules on everything. Those with a minority viewpoint lose out on everything. Again, it seems to me that our constitution was written to protect those with minority viewpoints.

This election, and the statements made by the candidates, have solidified my political beliefs. These things have reconfirmed to me that there is one major party that is "exclusive," that is, they project the image that you should believe as they do or you don’t count. The other party is "inclusive" believing that progress can be made with the cooperation of people of understanding and who accept of different points of view.

Politics is a lot like religion, isn’t it? But that’s another column, another day… With wishes for open minds, I wish you peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com