the vote will be fixed like usual
I was not a political science major, but I've got enough credits in Am. History to safely claim it as a "minor"...and I've done a lot of just general reading, especially in 19th & 20th c. Am. Hist. Something I've noted is that people seem to think that political "fixing" is somehow NOT the norm.
From what I've read, the fix is in and has been for a long, long time. The days of ol' "Honest Abe" are long gone and lost forever. If I recall, in those days the fix was in even for old Abe. Its been too long since I've looked back on those studies; of course, the fix was much simpler and more easily done back in those days.
I've yet to understand why here in the U.S. we don't use the "ink on the finger" style of voting. You go to the poll, get your finger inked, and you mark your ballot. Simple. Go to a different poll and try to vote with an already inked finger, and that's all brother. I think in some countries you can be thrown in the hoosegow if you don't vote. I seem to recall that was the way it was back in the Ancients' days.
That gives me an idea for a "future history" story ... a recollection of how we voted in (say) the 23rd c. I forget how it was thought of in (e.g.)
Stand On Zanzibar. That was a good read. If anyone has any suggestions for good "future history" stories, holler out. I'll be turning off the television once the new election commercials start blaring, so I'll need some more books to read.
