What choice do voters have when they are faced with immature, self-absorbed, candidates for president? Did the American people learn nothing from the experiences of the election and re-election of the current occupant of the White House?

Indeed, maybe that's why Bush and Gore found it necessary to select running mates with diplomatic maturity who are twice as qualified than they are. The vice-presidential debate surely drove home the point.

As expected, the presidential debates are off to a dismal start simply because the power brokers of the two-party system have offered us little more than third-rate presidential candidates with big talk and ulterior agendas, which leaves us with the serious question: Who can we trust?

Though both middle-age, Al Gore and George Bush seem confined to the careless irresponsibility of their youth. Gore is a condescending opportunist with a pathology that smacks of lying about lying. Bush is a consummate dealmaker and political hustler. Joe Lieberman is a verbose whiner who compromised his integrity for second prize.

Dick Cheney has emerged as the only candidate with the level-headed maturity, qualifications and uncompromising honesty closest to the job description that ought to be required to hold the office of president. Ten years in Congress, White House Chief of Staff for President Ford, a proven Secretary of Defense and a successful CEO of an international energy resource service company.

Who can we trust? Not the head of either ticket. Certainly, a presidential ticket of Dick Cheney and Colin Powell, or Powell and Cheney would be wise combination for president and vice-president of the United States. Alas, they are two of the few who rise above the endless field of political parasites. Unfortunately, that's not the case this time around. But if Bush and Cheney win, George W. should keep Cheney very close and deeply involved.

Still, it is highly disturbing to witness yet another presidential campaign replete with unresponsive answers, extreme demagoguery, gross over-promising, deceptive embellishments and blatant disregard for the truth. It's almost like being thrust into the middle of a bitter divorce of ideas and a nasty custody dispute over the voters.

There is so much twisting, spinning and whirling going on in the political arena, it's like watching multiple tornadoes dancing around a hurricane. Problem is, the people will be left with the damages and picking up the pieces.

Even more disturbing is the possibility of one candidate finishing the race with more popular votes and losing the electoral votes. Or to have the election thrown into the electoral college because of an electoral tie.

Clearly, it is time to re-examine ourselves. The 12th Amendment and the electoral college should be repealed and replaced with an amendment requiring the direct election of the president by the people, with a runoff, if necessary, for a majority vote. The highest office in the land should not be held with anything less.

And while such an amendment is being considered, it should include a provision making all federal and state elections and government, nonpartisan. Only then can the best of us represent the rest of us.

Meanwhile, instead of passive exposure to the runaway rhetoric of a political wasteland, voters might consider viewing the campaign junk with a grain of salt. Then watch the Monday, October 17th repeat of PBS' "The Choice 2000" for an in-depth view of the candidates.

Indeed, if the television broadcast and cable networks dig deep enough to find a modicum of public responsibility, they (and PBS) would air "The Choice 2000" frequently from now until the election. C-Span notwithstanding, many more voters could be expected to make informed choices. And many more of the 62 million eligible voters who don't vote, will.