Post election musings

On the electoral system

  The United States of America has got to come up with a better system of voting for the office of President. The current system is broken, and probably beyond repair. This is another example of progress not necessarily being a good thing. Hanging chads, crashed hard drives, ineligible absentee or provisional ballots, challengers at the polls, two to three hour waits at polling stations, these things should be embarrassing to all Americans.
  One of the biggest problems is the complexity of the ballot. There are so many things to vote for that electronic tabulation is the only feasible method of counting the ballots. In Columbus, Ohio, there were something like 34 different items on the ballot. No wonder there was a three hour wait at some polls. Even if you know exactly how you want to vote on each issue, it still takes three or four minutes just to make all of the selections. And for those who aren't quite sure of some of the issues, or even how to use the balloting equipment... Some poll workers said that the average voting time in Ohio was six to nine minutes. Given the number of polling booths available, and the average time to cast a single ballot, many polling stations were physically unable to process even fifty per cent of the people on their voters lists.
  We are talking about electing the President of the United States of America here, the most powerful man in the entire world. What is at stake, the world over, is far too important for these kinds of problems to be allowed to occur. Need to elect a new county sheriff, or dogcatcher? Need to vote on how funding for the local zoo will be collected? Want to decide whether or not to sell alcohol on a Sunday? Do it another day. Take all the little shit off the ballot. Here in Canada, when we hold a federal election, we are handed a paper ballot with the names of the candidates printed on it in extremely large type, and a big empty circle beside each name. We are given a fat black pencil and explicit instructions: "mark an "X" inside the circle beside one(1) name." That's it. No punch card machines or computer touchscreens. No levers to pull or buttons to press. Make your mark, fold your ballot, and place it in the box. Average time to cast a ballot: about 45 seconds. If we want to elect new city councillors, or new members of provincial parliament, or have a referendum on nationalsovereignty, we hold a different election for that.

On the outcome

   This election was the Democrats' to lose. For that matter, the last election was the Democrats' to lose. For George Bush to have won with barely 50% of the popular vote against John Kerry, or with less than 50% of the popular vote against Al Gore is very telling. All the Democrats had to do was actually field a strong candidate and the election was theirs. It's not going to get any easier. In 2008 Bush will no longer be allowed to run (unless he declares himself emperor) and the Democrats may have to face ::gasp:: Colin Powell. Has there been a bigger American Hero in the last 50 years? Better start thinking about it now. I don't know if Hillary will be good enough.