Apathy not an option

We all want this to be over.\nWith the question of who will be the next president of the United States hanging in the balance for almost a full week now, the American people are understandably sick and tired of hearing about unclear ballots and the "fuzzy math" used to count votes in Florida. Some will claim the candidate who loses the Florida recount should concede defeat, instead of miring the nation in ballot and voting technicalities that could end up in court and drag on for months.\nBut what does it say about our country's voting system when a first recount of one state narrows the margin by almost 1,400 votes? In such a close election, based on the Florida recount, imagine how many ballots have been miscounted in the rest of the country. Maybe this is the election that will show we should make changes in our system. Maybe it will teach us not to expect the instant election results from networks such as CNN.\nWhat people seem to forget is that these candidates are fighting not only for their own presidential glory and personal gain, but also for the ideals of the voters who chose them to hold the office of president. In an election that includes such important issues as who will be appointed to the Supreme Court in the next four years, we can't afford to grant victory to the wrong candidate. Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore's policies are vastly different and can have a huge effect on the economy and social issues during the next four years.\nWe as a country must realize apathy is not a choice in this critical election, and we must iron out the inconsistencies in the Florida vote totals -- and vote totals across the nation -- before we can declare a rightful president and move on with a new administration.\nThere are too many questions surrounding the election and the voting process. The litigation that could follow from both campaigns in this case seems necessary. We should support these measures, even if it takes some time, and hope that in the end America's voice is heard -- whatever the outcome.\nLet's get this over with, but only if we're doing it right.