Is it time to reconsider the Electoral College?

The Electoral College

Election time means one thing

It’s that time again when we depend on the archaic Electoral College to elect our president. Every four years, no matter the outcome of the popular vote, the cry arises that we must do something to get rid of this outdated exercise.

The Electoral College gives too much power to “swing states” and permits the presidential election to be decided by a handful of states. It ignores the will of the people, who are in reality casting a vote for an elector. The Electoral College, not the will of the voters, has determined the presidency twice in the past two decades.

Approximately 65 percent of adults in our nation think the winner of the popular vote should win the presidency, and are in favor of dumping the Electoral College. It’s time to start the constitutional amendment process, no matter how time-consuming and cumbersome.

Joan Lund, Tampa

Point magic returns | Sept. 14

This doesn’t make sense

The Tampa Bay Lightning are one game away from playing for the Stanley Cup yet were relegated to page 10 in Monday’s Sports section. Yet the losing Buccaneers are front-page news on that section. What’s wrong with this picture?

Denise Hertenstein, Lutz

Children returning to school

Take the high road

Society has often been beset by choices, one easy and the other difficult. We normally rely on adults to take the lead and guide youth. Recently, I have witnessed a reverse role occurring. I see children going to school with masks, and school principals wearing none. I see young people courteously avoiding seniors and adults entering stores without masks. I see businesses where those in charge refuse to follow the rules while imposing them on others. I am reminded of the parent of old telling his child “Do what I say,” even though it is not what he does.

Please, take the path of guiding with strength, securing with guts and encouraging with kind words the actions that build our character to protect each other from a deadly virus, even if you believe it’s a hoax. Just take the high road this one time.

Lillian Guttman, Tampa

If we run out of names, will storms stop? Nope | Sept. 14

What’s next? Mayan hurricane names?

Irony of ironies — the last available name for hurricanes, “Wilfred,” derives from a German name meaning “desire for peace.”

Peaceful Wilfred may wreak havoc on the Gulf Coast. The storm is standing off at sea, but it’s in line to strike the United States. Climate change deniers living in its path will get an education.

Harsh weather systems are arriving on American shores in fierce succession, clearing the roster of available monikers. Should more hurricanes blow in, the next choices for names will be Greek. Fraternities at the University of Florida will become the butt of jokes for years. The lads might ask their parents to lobby the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to switch to ancient Mayan words. How does “Hurricane Quetzalcoatl” sound?