We have just gone through a bitterly divided presidential election. The votes were razor thin and hotly contested in the courts. Neither candidate is broadly recognized by the people as a winner. Rather, both are looked upon by the public eye as losers.

Only half of the eligible voters voted in the election. The half who didn't vote probably abstained because they feel disenfranchised by government. And the half whose candidate lost the election probably feel the same way.

Indeed, the two-party system of elections resulted, not only in a divided presidency, but a divided Congress. Alas, it could be said that we have evolved into a society of political, cultural and economic divisions, which have disenfranchised the vast majority of the American people.

But it doesn't have to remain that way, and it won't. Democracy is waking up to a new day of citizen participation. Remarkable advances in communications and information technology are engaging and enlightening more and more people.

Clearly, people are beginning to reject the political intensity of being told what to think and what to think about in favor of informing themselves, thinking for themselves, and making more decisions.

Coupled with the 2000 election cram course on how the top end of the system works, voters will learn the rest of the story and realize it's time to re-examine themselves. The result should be efficient voting networks, nonpartisan elections, and more democracy.

America was never a 50-50 proposition. And rancor heals no wounds.

Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
The Direct Democracy Center