This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE (11-02-04)

Well, it’s election day!

All the talking pundits have been telling us that this will be another razor thin election.

They point to the blue and the red states...and single out certain states as the key states.

But....it all means nothing.

Today....what counts is who votes....and for what.

Locally we have two County Commissioner seats up for grabs, meaning control of the County government is in the hands of you, the voter.

On the State scene we have a Legislature that was pretty much divided in the House....and thus little really got done. Each political party has tried its best to ensure that they get control for the next session.

Nationally we have a war in Iraq that has accented the lack of any human emotions on the part of the insurgents who will behead, shoot people innocently and bomb anywhere against anybody. The Iraqis are suffering the most right now as they try to pilot their way toward some semblance of a democracy.

Other nations of the world wonder if America will stay the course until the Iraqis can provide their own protection and select their own leaders.

That’s the sum and substance of the human part of the ballot voters will cast their choices on today.

In Oregon...we have all the measures to decide...some just housekeeping measures....but others such as a ban on gay marriage, the requirement that if government downgrades the value of your property they must pay for it.....and the future of the State Industrial Accident Fund....and the issue of the future of our forests.

These are close to home issues but ones that certainly will determine future actions at the state level.

So....the voter is in charge today.

It may be different tomorrow...at least on the national scene, as both parties have secured legions of lawyers to question any discrepancies in the voting procedures.

So....even though the votes may be counted tonight...the results might not be final for a few weeks to come.

It has been a long, grueling, bitter campaign with billions being spent on both sides of the political spectrum.

Obviously there must be some changes in the financing of the national elections.....otherwise it will be a case of the richest ones win.

That was not the intention of our founding fathers who thought the Constitution they fashioned would make it possible for any American to become President.

I would have several suggestions for the future. First, change the Constitution to limit the President to one six year term....the Representatives to four year terms....and limit both the Representatives and the Senators to a total of 12 years total service in either or both houses.

Those changes....along with some changes governing the financing of elections should bring the national election procedure back to some where near normal....if there is such a thing in elections.

Nevertheless....make certain you vote. At this stage...that’s all we can do.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.