Daniel Bianchino [12/24/2003]

To the editor:A recent letter written by Daniel Crocker was so full of misinformation that I could not let it go without responding. First, his statement that the United States is a "pure democracy" is just not true. A true democracy specifically means that all people who are entitled to vote will have their vote counted majority rules. If this were the case, then Gore would be president today. It's not that complicated. We are not a true democracy when voting for the president. Today we have the remnants of an archaic voting practice (the electoral college). The majority does not rule in certain cases. This discounts some citizen's votes in favor of others. At the time when the electoral college was instituted there were many practices that seemed a "good idea" at the time that were later deemed abhorrant Slavery, denying Women's Suffrage, poll taxes, etc. The Electoral College has served its useful life and should be abandoned. The Senate of the United States provides the smaller states with their disproportionately strong voice. The House and the president are supposed to be popularly elected. (The "beauty contests" that are pure democracy). This aside, Crocker is correct when he states that the Electoral College will elect the president. Until that is changed we will continue to get these election "surprises" in the future. Crocker's interpretation on the electoral practices in Florida during the 2000 election leaves a lot to be desired though. Catherine Harris (Jeb Bush's hand picked secretary of state) certified that the vote was 2,910,492 for Bush and 2,910,192 for Gore, a 300-vote difference. There were legitimate grievances from some Americans that they were turned away at the voting booths, (Disproportionably those people of color). Those 300 people determined the course of a presidential election when 500,000 more Americans voted for the other candidate. Some American votes are indeed much more valuable than others. Florida was a mockery to our proud electoral integrity. Nations around the world still refer to that election as a farce. Well, Crocker, this is why some voters have sour grapes over the last presidential election. It wasn't fairly won. To top it off George Bush had a perfect opportunity to reach out to that 51percent of the voting population that did not vote for him and really be a president of all the people. He certainly did not have what we call a "mandate." He has failed us in so many ways it is difficult to calculate the damage. His administration has been operating on the philosophy of "let's get it while we can." I truly hope we wake up and quickly end this national nightmare. This unfairly beaten dead horse will not forget.