The politics of pulp

A prime slice of primary-source American history was spared the shredder this week in Ohio as paper ballots from the 2004 presidential election were given a reprieve from their scheduled destruction, with some pushing for the ballots to be saved so a more thorough investigation into the numerical irregularities and "extremely shoddy handling of ballots" researchers have already documented can proceed and the system can be improved for future contests.

Of course, others contend the punchcard packrats aren't looking out for history or democracy (or even toward designing some fabulously snappy White House Christmas cards or executive wallpaper), but merely dredging up past disgruntlement and playing politics.

I have to admit, the critics have a point–we wouldn't want to offend or undermine anyone's current authority over something so trifling. We're merely talking about the most fundamental tenant of a democratic state, after all–it's not like someone airbrushed a promo shot of Katie Couric or something.

Besides, how dare anyone have the audacity to imply an electoral system that produces leaders this articulate might be slightly flawed?

"We face an enemy that has an ideology," Mr. Bush continued. "They believe things. The best way to describe their ideology is to relate to you the fact that they think the opposite of the way we think."

Gee, combine that pearl of cultured wisdom with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's Hitler analogy, and I now understand everything that's going on in the world today and just what to do about it–thanks, Mr. President!

Perhaps it's no coincidence that another term for "voting rights" is "suffrage."