Yet more on the Election

Tino's position on the Florida election debacle (issued 7:40 EST 26 Nov 00):

Katherine Harris, the Secretary of State of Florida, certified the Florida presidential vote tonight before Palm Beach County was able to finish their recount. (Miami-Dade County stopped last week when it became clear that they could not finish in time.)

She has made it clear that she is not interested in finding the true number of votes cast for each candidate.

I therefore must conclude that either:

a. she favors expedience and convenience over democracy, or

b. she is participating in what amounts to a coup.

Either possibility is appalling. I personally favor neither Gore nor Bush -- I think that neither of them is right for the office, and I voted for neither of them. But I also can see, as I believe most Americans can, that the true result of the Florida election is in doubt.

With each counting, the number of votes for each candidate has changed -- generally in Gore's favor. It is clear that the difference in favor between the two candidates is within the margin of error for the Florida poll. It is probably impossible, both logistically and especially legally, given that the Florida government is dominated by Republicans, but the only realistic solution is for Florida to re-vote, and for the results of this second election to be certified.

Instead, apparently, the country will suffer another blow, another slip in the slide we're already on, closer to the police state.

(For more of Tino's views on the election, see the complaining section of this website.)