An Electoral Tsunami.

Most readers of our Nov. 18 report on the U.S. elections criticized the Republican victory. "Bush's triumph is a sad commentary on U.S. politics," wrote one. Another faulted "an election decided by TV advertising, a president obsessed with raising money and an electorate that was apathetic."

A Republican Victory

Your Nov. 18 cover package ("Top Gun," U.S. Affairs) provided an accurate, enlightening look at the reality of the election process in America--and left me feeling deeply despondent and cynical. "Issues" are massaged and manipulated for the greatest political advantage, and "success" is measured by the number of seats won in Congress. Surely the role of government is to "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity"? Imagine what progress could be made if just half the money, manpower, energy and strategizing devoted to the business of politics were instead applied to the business of running our government. No wonder more than half of all eligible U.S. voters fail to exercise that precious right.

Donna D. Andes

Reading, Pennsylvania

The problem with the Democratic Party and the American left is not that they lack leadership and a coherent message but that they lack an understanding of the people. Republicans won because Americans see a man in the White House they can trust; they believed him when he endorsed Republican candidates. Trustworthiness was a characteristic sorely lacking in the last presidency, and until Democrats understand that, they'll have a hard time winning.

Kelly Flanagan