Electoral Differences

Between U.S. and Britain

“British Election Offers Up a Lesson or Two for U.S.” (June 11), on the electoral differences between the U.S. and British political systems, is accurate as far as it goes. However, the comparison of the media role in the two countries fails to take into account political party differences in the two systems. Britain has real national political party structures organized down to the parliamentary constituency level, which the U.S. has never had.

The constituency parties provide a communication channel between constituents and party leaders regarding the former’s views on issues like health services, education, transportation, etc., that were the focus of Britain’s recent national elections. Thus, the British media involvement is not as critical as the media in our elections, where the media and polls are substitute communication channels between electoral hopefuls and voters in the absence of parties.

Harry S. Hall

Arcadia

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Re “Blair Sails to Second Election Landslide,” June 8: If Britain can have a campaign and an election in six weeks, why can’t we?

Clara Browda

Los Angeles