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Debate Watch Page 12 HTT p;//CJ A. MSG. TAMU.EDU Persons with disabilities needing assistance tttav call 845-1637 MSC E.L Miller Science and Technology Committee Presents 007: The Deal Thing Jim Ohsotf ab|5Uj- his'undercover cxpcricnC-Ciu'Witlphe CIA Tucr^ ^ qjfff 17 ,h gt http://elmiller.msc.tamu.edu Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515. & P ICKING UP your 2000 Aggieland is easy. If you ordered a book, go to the basement of the Reed McDonald Building, and show your Student ID. If you did not order last year's Texas A&M yearbook (the 1999-2000 school year), you may purchase one for $35 plus tax in 015 Reed McDonald. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cash, checks, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. http://aggieland.tamu.edu PICK UP YOUR AGGIELAND HERE opinion Tuesday, October! Electoral Continued from Page 11 Theoretically, up to 49 percent of a state’s electorate can go without representation in such a system if the opposition candidate garners the remaining 51 percent. The Electoral College system does not reward candi dates who make strong showings in hotly contested races — it treats them the same as candidates who are soundly defeated. Another negative effect of the Electoral College is the lack of representation it gives third-party candidates. In 1992, H. Ross Perot received 19 percent of the national popular vote, but not a single electoral vote, since he failed to cap ture a majority in any state. An electoral process that com pletely disregards J one-fifth of the /// ’V electorate can- not be called a n t***/i\f representative r^** 1 system. The 538 votes in the Elec toral College, one for each state’s congressional members and three for the District of Columbia, do not paint an ac curate picture of the American population. T others is not compatible with states’ rights. The main defense of Electoral College support!: invariably that it is “what the framers had in There is no dispute that the writers of the Constitui wanted to keep the ill-informed masses from dira electing their leaders. Their reasons have been well documented ed by numerous scholars throughout the years. Tk Electoral College was a solution that fit 18th-ceifc America well. However, information is now easily accessible public through television, newspapers the Internei other media outlets. The electoral process shoukh longer fear the influence of the “ignorant masses.’ In truth, the masses have been intk know for quite a whit f now. America has noth, need to stick to the fra: intentions when it come other areas. If it had, the si 1 By Brady The Batta A Texas )n the toe ( bat that i coming election’s constita • ; ia //| IIK * 1 would consist entirely of»i property-owners. The Constitution isal document. What the forefat truly had in mind wasadoct ment that could be adapted!: address new issues as the Ur. States evolved over time. The principles establish 1789 were the beginnings!? new nation, not the finali print. In the end, the Electoral College it is an antiquated system Based on 1990 census data, each electoral vote from the state of Alaska represents ap proximately 112,000 eligible voters. In contrast, each elector from the state of New York represents 404,000 eligible voters. It does not take a math whiz to figure out that New Yorkers are getting less bang for their buck when it comes to electing the president. Americans have proven to be capable of directly electing their representatives and senators. What is wrong with each American finally getting an equal say in electing the president? California, which has only 11 percent of the total na tional population, holds 54 electoral votes — 20 per cent of the 270 votes needed to win the presidency. The candidate who captures California is already one-fifth of the way to victory. Only the 11 most popu lous states are needed to win the election. Federalism is an important concept that is brought up again and again in the Constitution. A system that al lows a minority of states to negate the vote of the 39 wuuege n is an aiuiquaieu sysra . that discourages participation and distorts the wiUd | ■“* I the people. 1 ^ Two hundred years ago, it was good idea. Today merits are heavily outweighed by its drawbacks. It is time for the American form of government become more representative. It is time for the political elites to relinquish thei power to the people. Nicholas Roznovsky is a senior political sciencein The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 300 or less and Include the author's name, class and phone number. The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, stjt accuracy. Letters may be submitted in person at 014 Reed Me Dora: a valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to: The Battalion - Mall Call 014 Reed McDonald Texas A&M University 1111TAMU College Station, Texas 77843 By Courts The Battai Collectii nore than 1 $65 to $70 out to a lan get Texas about recyc Initiated fice bee an Columns and letters appearing in The Battalion express the opinion? \ 991 and i authors only. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of otherBattalior agement of members, the Texas A&M student body, regents, administrator,feailtyon" p^vi^on s wastewatei —- Though i Campus Mall: 1111 Fax: (979) 845-2647 E-mall: battletters@hotmall.com B ixth floor ibrary. Accord ane Step! Diversity was bitten Sti efl la< an awarenej pon, organn jovernmen lental Issue Residence I The Pepsi Bottling Group vork with tl groups colk paper, cardb yearbooks, ( ored paper, t Rakes one w Jump Start Your Career: Opportunities Available In Sales & Operations! jstops at resit vorking tog< aent a proj about recycl Daniella Ian intern at t junior renev isources majc Itablish a linl Office and tl “The the U thor consh a maj that WK/mMSM ..flWBfo, iW-’A -'si, iw- Mg? ti passi st Environr The Pepsi Bottling Croup is the world's largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi beverages. The company, formed in March 1999 through an IPO, generates nearly $8 billion in annual sales. PBC's sales force sells and delivers over 100 million 8 oz. servings of Pepsi-Cola beverages per day and operates 70 plants worldwide. We will be at Texas A&M University for the following events: Information Session, October 17th • On-Campus Interviews, November 7th “The main program has i j on campus in I of student aw Various or | tees have pret the Recycling cling among t failed becam Hiche said. “The issue thorities do r Submit your resumes to the Career Center by October 18th major issue, a on to the stud She added Visit our web site at: www.pbg.com sters are u, at the serv lows for qi recyclable Howevt ulty and st much wast cling Offic trash disap wonder wh The EI( gram, with See