Readers Take US Election System Critics to Task

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I agree that the US system of electing a president may not be perfect and can put too much emphasis how a person conducts himself/herself rather than an ability to run a country, but I still prefer it over the German system (I was born and raised in Germany). I assume Mr. Unger knows that the US is a republic and not a democracy, much less a parliamentary democracy -- and thanks for that. He really thinks a party is better at selecting leaders than the people? All of my German friends are disillusioned with the party system because they feel they are not in the loop and have no input at all. Here I can visit with my representative or staff person and tell them what I think about legislation. For better or for worse, our representatives listen to the input from their constituents. I e-mail on a regular basis with my representative in the Florida legislature. As far as I am concerned, Europe can keep its parliamentary democracies. -- Marga E.Doerr, US

The US system doesn't work in other cultures, said a reader

When do you think a German with a Kenyan father and a middle name of Hussein will stir the hearts of say Bavarian farmers? It will come -- the war in Iraq is unsustainable, breaking the country's back, the dollar is diving and we are violating our principles of democracy. People are thinking for the first time that the next generation will have it worse and what is the use? The most important thing for us is to change from the path of tyranny, ruinous war and torture -- and the change will come. We will take our country back. We have had good luck in the past and we could use European help. Next time Germany has a problem, let us rub something in your eye to make you feel worse instead of giving you hope! -- Robert Friedman, US

Many Americans think we should make changes to our elections, especially in how they are financed. But any place that has free speech, including Europe, is subject to the concept of political propaganda being funded by what in the United States are called "political action committees." Even if campaign financing were reformed to only public financing in the US those who want to influence the voters will always be able to disseminate information/propaganda to the public in proportion to their funding. And sometimes the funding is massive. One thing not mentioned in this article is that in the Iowa caucuses the Republican winner was one of the least funded candidates thus far, as was the second place Democratic candidate. Indeed, the Democratic winner brought record numbers of young people (under age 25) into the political process for the first time. Messages won Iowa. "Establishment" candidates on both sides were rebuked. By far, this is the story from Iowa that is worth noting. -- Bryan Beyer, US

Unfortunately, you have decided to completely ignore the historical significance of Barack Obama's success in favor of criticizing the US election system. Maybe you will follow up with a more socially relevant discussion if Obama wins in New Hampshire. Regarding the US system, it is uniquely ours, only works for us, and has largely not been transferable to other cultures. We are Americans and not Europeans and our system was set up specifically rejecting anything European. -- Kathleen Johnson, US

Clinton is not one of the candidates with a modest campaign budget

No surprise here: Europeans critical of the United States. This is just another example of Europe holding itself above the US. Add your "displeasure" of our political system to the never ending list. We are so tired of hearing how superior Europe is to the US that we have stopped listening and caring what you think. -- E.H. Day, US

I have never read an article in the American press criticizing the arcane political practices in Germany. Policy criticisms, yes. We never criticized Schröder's bad hair dye when there was room for criticism. Yet the German elite seem to find no end of problems with the American political system. After the primary win by the first African-American candidate in US history, you trot out German college professors who criticize the process itself and they ignore the substance of what just took place. When I last visited Berlin, Berliners could not wait to sit me down and tell me everything that was wrong with America. I did not respond similarly because I was, after all, a guest in their country and it would not be appropriate for me to start criticizing. But it seems that Berliners have no qualms about criticizing and complaining about a guest's home country. -- John Alus, US