Letters to the editor

primary elections

Editor,

The results of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary were not surprising to me. In Iowa, the unusual way (to me) that voters have to come out to caucus on a cold, wintry evening meant that many older people would not feel up to participating, but, for younger voters, it would be exciting and a lark. In New Hampshire, more mature voters interested in experience over change probably participated.

The reality is that voters want both experience and change and that is why so many are still undecided. The Democrats should develop a new way of looking at the primary. It would be nice if, rather than competing with each other, Hilary and Barack would go together arm in arm to offer voters a "co-presidency.” For this to be constitutional, one would probably have to be designated president and the other vice president. But both would pledge that in reality it would be a "co-presidency.” That could be done by designating the one with the most votes president and the other vice president, or, even better, flipping a coin. And at the end of four (or eight) years they would switch positions.

For the good of our democracy, it is time to stop looking at the election as a ball game where one team wins and the other loses. Instead it is a symphony orchestra where all work together to produce a magnificent composition. In that light, there is a place for everyone: Bill Richardson might be designated "secretary of state,” Edwards, "secretary of labor,” Al Gore, "secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency,” etc.

Voters are very concerned that the primaries will turn negative. Let us do everything possible to avoid in fighting.

Teresa Walker

San Mateo

Ban hand guns

once and for all

Editor,

On any given day throughout the Bay Area, an innocent bystander who is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time is injured or killed in a robbery, a drive-by shooting, or a mindless dispute over someone’s "turf.” Just last Thursday, a ten-year-old boy who was taking a piano lesson in a music studio in North Oakland was struck by a stray bullet and is now at risk for being paralyzed for life from his waist down. How many more tragedies must we suffer through before realistic and consistent legislation is enacted to totally ban hand guns and assault rifles from our streets once and for all? Moreover, why are the current presidential candidates — who talk incessantly about change and moving forward — not dealing with the enormity of these tragedies in many of the cities and towns throughout our country and addressing this on-going nightmare with more concern and more passion?

Michael Traynor

Burlingame