We’re actually center-left

It’s interesting that, Mr. Nordhagen’s November 13th letter (“More relieved than elated”) states that we are “… largely a center right nation …,” yet offers no evidence or data to support his conclusion. A look at how Americans have voted over the past 32 years contradicts this assumption while strongly suggesting that we are a center-left nation.

In seven of the past eight presidential elections more Americans voted for the Democratic candidate than Republican nominee (yet the Democratic candidate only won the White House in five of those elections). It’s time to throw out the antiquated Electoral College, and doing what virtually every other free nation does: elect leaders by popular vote.

Nationally, Democratic candidates for both the House and Senate frequently have received more votes than their Republican opponents. So how then have Republicans controlled the House for 20 of the past 32 years? The answer is simple: Our electoral process is flawed. The gerrymandering of congressional districts (which both parties are guilty of) protects incumbents while distorting the equality of representation.

In the 2016 elections only five of Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts were won by Democratic candidates (28%), the balance (72%) by Republicans. Yet statewide Democratic candidates received almost 49% of the total votes cast, with Republicans collecting slightly over half (50.5%). So one-half of voters elected 13 of the state’s 18 congressional representatives.

So Mr. Trump, you are correct – our elections are flawed, but not for the reasons you spew.

Gary Klingsporn

Spokane