Onward after the election

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(Host) After the drama of the election, commentator Bill Seamans reflects on the country’s need to get back to business.

(Seamans) It’s time to move ahead. It’s time to leave behind the chaos of yet another very unsatisfactory election shrouded in the suspicion of corruption. We hope that sometime in the future all our votes are counted legitimately and accurately. The right to vote and access to the polling place should not be compromised by pseudo legal obstacles. Every vote must be counted and the counting must be transparent. The quadrennial presidential election chaos must be corrected. It’s said that we the people get what we deserve – we deserve better.

After President Bush’s stunning victory too many Democrats are suffering a severe case of traumatic post election stress and will just not let it go. They are trapped in denial and among them are the conspiracy theorists who persist in trying to prove that Kerry really won.

Despite the publicity that the vote fraud vigilantes are generating, their efforts are in vain. They don’t listen as John Kerry, himself, tells them not to bother because no matter how many lost votes they find they still cannot overcome the impressive lead that President Bush racked up.

The post election critics should stop looking back and instead vector their considerable energies toward the future and fight for a better electoral process. Democratic leaders are said to be steering a delicate course patiently listening to their conspiracy constituency while trying to persuade them to move on.

Meanwhile, a recent New York Times editorial took a giant step forward. The Times said, From untrustworthy electronic voting machines, to partisan secretaries of state, to what voters are entitled to…it is patently obvious that the presidential election, at least, should be conducted under uniform rules. The Times added that States may have the right to set their own standards for local elections but picking the president is a national enterprise.

In addition to proposing a uniform voting system for the presidential election – that is the same voting machines, ballots and procedures for the whole country – the Times offered more suggestions that would serve the future voter well – among them:

  • A holiday for voting.
  • Electronic voting machines that leave a paper trail enabling recounts.
  • Uniform voter registration standards.
  • Fair and uniform voter ID rules.
  • An end to minority voter suppression.
  • Improved absentee and provisional ballot procedures.

    Now while this list sounds like the Times has entered a political dreamland there is little doubt that there is a profound apolitical desire among the people to fix the way we vote for our President – however dreamlike that idea may be.

    This is Bill Seamans.

    Award-winning journalist Bill Seamans is a former correspondent and bureau chief for ABC News in the Middle East. He spoke from our studio in Norwich.

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