There’s More to the U.S. Than Swing States

Presidential elections in the United States are national elections, which should include all 50 states. However, you would never know it in this election the way George W. Bush and John F. Kerry have disregarded the majority of the country by pandering to the so-called swing voters in the so-called swing states. What about the rest of us, who aren’t swingers? When did presidential elections become so exclusive that a majority of the country’s population could be taken so for granted?

No wonder we have such miserable voter turnout during elections: Not everyone gets an invitation to participate. This is yet another reason to do away with the electoral college. Without the electoral college, the candidates would have to speak to the needs of the citizenry of the entire country and not just strive to “win” the necessary amount of electoral votes, in certain states, that will get them elected. The U.S. still is a representative democracy, isn’t it?

Anthony Balderrama

Tujunga

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Re “The Dangers of a ‘What the Heck’ Vote,” Commentary, Sept. 28: Kudos to Robert Scheer for telling it like it is. His brilliant article appeared the same day it was revealed that Bush was warned two months before he went to war in Iraq, by the National Intelligence Council, that there would be costly consequences of an American invasion.

The assessment predicted that an invasion would increase support for radical Islam and would result in an Iraqi society prone to violent internal conflict. It warned of an insurgency against a new Iraqi government and American-led forces. Bush ignored these warnings in his rush to become a “war president,” a role designed to increase his political advantage.

Joan Schain-West

Los Angeles

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I was prepared to wait until after the debates to select my candidate. But after reading Scheer’s column I have decided to vote for W. If Bush wins, Scheer will probably have apoplexy and we will not be exposed to his venomous and irrational columns ever again.

George Bissell

Newport Beach

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James McEnteer’s Sept. 27 commentary, “The American Way: Find a Candidate to Vote Against,” provides one way of choosing a president. My way is simpler. I decide the type of Supreme Court justices I want, hold my nose and cast my vote. Even though I’m a registered Republican, I’ve been voting for Democratic presidential candidates for the last 20 years because I don’t want another Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas. The Republican Party has been bought by religious wackos, so I have no other choice.

I hate voting because I consider most politicians lying scum who are in politics to enrich themselves. Some have been caught, most haven’t.

Ita Vandenbroek

Westminster

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My wife and I have decided to cross off the names of the presidential candidates and write in Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) name. We feel this is our only hope for the country.

Barry Cahill

Camarillo

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If there were ever a time when the upcoming ballot should contain a line for “None of the Above,” it should be now. Never have the American people been faced with an election where both candidates should not even be on the ballot because of their complete ineptness and lack of ability to lead this nation. For the first time in my life, I will not vote for the presidential candidates because of my reluctance to contribute to my own country’s demise.

Don Beaver

Monarch Beach