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Kokua Line
Question: Can you explain in short and simple terms why we vote for the president when the only vote that counts is the Electoral College? What's going on in Florida with the manual counting when only their 25 electoral votes count? Why you cast your
vote for an electorAnswer: The mess of this year's presidential election probably has served as the best civics lesson for most Americans.
The Electoral College was created in 1787 as a compromise between letting the people pick a president or leaving the decision to Congress.
Also, the Electoral College protects the interests of less populous states, like Hawaii.
For the first time in more than a century, the vote of electors this year could go counter to the popular vote. And because this hasn't happened for so long, American voters are finding out why, in every presidential election year, after all the votes have been tallied and a winner declared, we go through the motion of electors voting again for president. This happens in their respective state capitals on the Monday following the first Wednesday of December.
There have been several articles and editorials explaining and debating the Electoral College.
The most concise explanation -- minus the debate -- we found is this: although you think you are voting directly for a presidential candidate, you are actually voting for electors, who are chosen by the political parties.
Generally, all the electoral votes in a state are awarded to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. The number of electoral votes held by each state depends on population and correlates to the number of its congressional delegation.
The electoral votes are not prorated according to the votes cast. Conceivably, an elector may decide to vote for the losing candidate or even to abstain, but generally, the winning candidate takes all the electoral votes in a state.
The Gore and Bush campaigns are fighting over the popular vote in Florida because whoever wins that battle will win Florida's 25 electoral votes, which means he will exceed the minimum 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidential election.
The sound of music
For many years I served as a music director for various churches and military chapels. During this time, I accumulated several large boxes of sheet music and choral music. Most are single perusal copies sent to me by music publishers, but several are multiple copies. Also, there are books for children's choirs, cantatas, etc. Considering the value of this type of music and the always lean budget for music directors, I would gladly donate these boxes to any church or organization that could put them to good use.Also, I have several years' subscription of "Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles." I will be glad to donate these as well. -- Anonymous
(The person making the offer did not want her name used, but you may call her at 944-4088.)
Auwe
To yardmen who take advantage of old people. I'm 92 and my husband is 94. We had a yardman. He said to pay him $60. Then he said he wanted $10 more because he has too much work to do. But no matter what, he never finished the job. Then he said he has plenty of other jobs and told us to look for another yardman. But the others say they don't pull weeds or they want so much money. We don't know what to do. We just want to tell other people, especially old people, to be careful. -- No Name
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