Sandy Paton--

I agree that having all the votes counted,(and recounted in a timely, if necessary} is a good thing. But we do not have only a recount here...no talk of fraud, no election malfunction, no disputed voters...what we have is an "interpretation" of what a ballot means, a very subjective interpretation, as the criteria changed two or four times.

I realize that elections are extremely important! They are not a game, but there are rules and regulations. Elections must be conducted fairly and uniformly within a jurisdiction. This certainly is not the case in Florida where the rules are being made-up as they go along.

I grew up in another time; a time when folks mostly took responsiblity for they own actions and mistakes; a time when we didn't run to the courts for redress to everything we perceived as inimicable to our indidual well-being. People thought more of community than themselves. I am too old to pat people on the head and tell them that they are not responsible, that their ills are a result of the system. This Florida election smacks to me of just that victim mentality attitude. I do not accept it. I will not accept it! And neither should you or any of us.

Please for give the harangue, but this is the synthesis of discussions with my more liberal brother (almost a generation younger than I). I am not so much for Bush as I am for fairness, which I find sorely lacking.

That said, may Mr. Gore be the best president we have had in my lifefime.---John