> It's entirely undemocratic.
>
> The votes of the vast majority of the people in southern and eastern Oregon, while cast for Bush, will almost certainly all count towards Gore [...]

What's interesting is that, here in Italy, politicians look at USA's Electoral Colleges as a sample to follow, not realizing that Italian electoral system works in a similar way (we elect a premier -every 5 years-, that is the Chief of Deputees, through electoral colleges in each of the 20 regions Italy is divided in; our government is Deputees+Senate; the government elects the President -every 7 years).

At any rate, we do so from 1992; the preceding system was similar to what you suggest in your message, but created more troubles and confusion (actual troubles and confusion are not due to the electoral system... they're peculiar of the Italian politics).

Me for President,
AP.