U.S. election structure is broken

Now that the presidential election is down to two main candidates, let’s look at the process to get to this point.

This time last year, John McCain’s campaign fund had dwindled to almost nothing. Hillary Clinton was far ahead in the polls. The uproar over the Rev. Wright’s comments was almost enough to destroy Barack Obama’s credibility and integrity.

All three candidates had to overcome adversity to prevail, even though Clinton is no longer in the race. It wasn’t just politicians who had difficulties with this process — what about voters?

In some states, the Democrats hold caucuses, in others, primaries. The Republicans have a state-by-state “winner take all” method of determining delegates. Then there’s Florida and Michigan, where voters cast votes that didn’t count.

Today’s political structure, in terms of electing officials and creating laws, is a broken system, far too complex and confusing for the average American to understand. Why does anyone vote, when superdelegates and Electoral College votes determine the outcome anyway!

There must be an agency or commission created, to oversee the delicate task of dismantling the apparatus that has become obsolete, dysfunctional and seething with corruption at all levels. The processes for electing our leaders must change. It must be made easier for potential voters to understand.

If we don’t do these things, we’ll be forced to submit to rules, laws and policies created to perpetuate themselves. These rules, laws and policies keep the powerful in power.

Think about it — the Senate and House of Representatives can give themselves pay raises whenever they want. In 2006, Congress was in session for a whole 200 days.

Until good people, not bad, get involved with the way they want their country to be run, we’ll continue to live under the wrath of a den of vipers.

Christopher L. Brown
Mount Vernon


Past time to reform prison system

The answer to crime is not “bigger prisons.”  It has never been effective. It has not worked anywhere. The private prison enterprises are obscene, and they are not effective either.  Profiting from the incarceration of people is immoral and disgusting.

What we need is prison reform with strong rehabilitative programs in place and strong support systems for the incarcerated when they are released. Prisons should be places of learning where people are prepared for successful re-entry into society. These measures are effective and do result in reduced rates or recidivism.

Mistreatment and the dehumanizing of the incarcerated that is prevalent in many prisons merely hardens them further and causes anger, resentment and defiance. These people have problems starting over and often cannot overcome the obstacles facing them “outside.”  Many will return to crime and inevitably to prison.

Cheryl Onstad
Anacortes


Population in Texas math wrong

It is ironic that Margaret Barton would quote Ralph Waldo Emerson on the virtues of truth when only a few weeks ago she wrote that if the world’s population were confined to Texas each person would have one-quarter acre. Not true.

In fact, Texas contains 267,339 square miles, or 171,096,960 acres. The current world population is estimated at 6.5 billion. If all were in Texas each person would have only 1/40th of an acre or 33 feet by 33 feet.

Curtis Johnson
La Conner