Letter: Selective indignation

by Frank Bellet

News Weekly, January 27, 2001

Sir,

Some political commentators, along with many other scribes in the media, are continuing to question the legitimacy of George W. Bush's presidency because Al Gore won the "popular" vote and because some votes weren't counted in Florida (and I expect throughout the nation).

American Presidents have always been elected by the Electoral College system and not the popular vote. Some votes weren't counted because an "unbiased" machine deemed them to be informal.

In Australia we have preferential voting. I'd be surprised if commentators and other critics went in to bat on behalf of One Nation, for lack of representation in Parliament, even though they poll more votes than the Australian Democrats and the Nationals.

Frank Bellet,
Petrie, Qld