This election impacted us all. Most Americans on both sides simply wanted an honest election regardless of the winner. We want to believe in our system of government, even when we see weaknesses. It is the best in all the world. Over the centuries our laws have been based on a Judeo-Christian ethic; after all, laws are formed from an ethical base not a void. Today, ethics have been called into question: in business, school testing, sports and of course, politics. The end supposedly justifies the means?
The day after the election the media blitz began. The candidate with the popular vote should win. The New York League of Women Voters said the Electoral College is antiquated, and a new senator wants a constitutional change.
The fact is, we are a democratic republic not a pure democracy. Compare the rocky French government history to ours. The men forming our country were well informed. Thomas Jefferson, while in Europe, sent back to James Madison every published work on types of governments and governing philosophies. Yes, our technology has changed, but human nature hasn’t. The Electoral College is a properly instituted check and balance. In close elections it gives a slight edge to the collective voice of all the states over population centers.
In Florida, the Gore team could have chosen the high road: counting only swinging chads manually in all the state by an impartial judicial system. Instead they chose to double speak – “the will of the people has not been heard” – and count the undervote and dimples in only three counties. And at the same time they were trying to minimize military votes and eliminate absentee ballots through a purported registrar’s mis-discretion. They misquoted an Illinois state law case to the Florida Supreme Court and Broward County officials to win the inclusion of dimpled ballots.
I’ve been impressed with the judicial findings at all levels regarding Bush and Gore cases. Let’s continue to send a message of high ethics and moral character throughout our land in all aspects of our lives. We do know what the word “is” is!
Marysville
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