Nov. 8, 2002

TO THE EDITOR:

Democrats should not begrudge President Bush and the Republicans their victory. The President showed political bravery by campaigning as he did. The campaign he and his fellow Republicans waged was better crafted and presented than that by the Democratic leadership and Democratic candidates.

All Americans should be disturbed with the low voter turnout, the enormous campaign expenditures, the negative ads, the number of uncontested elections and the huge election margins of victory by many incumbents, whether Republican or Democrat.

If the low voter turnout percentages continue, if running against an incumbent is both expensive and almost always futile, and if serious campaign reform is not enacted, put in place and effectively monitored, our Republic and the democracy it champions will spiral into precarious decline.

Sincerely,

Hal Mansfield, 1138 C. R. 302, Durango, CO 81303-8050

970.259.1324 mansfield_h@fortlewis.edu