Much at stake How democratic is all of that, ask the critics. Of course a very different picture can also be painted. Last Tuesday, up and down the land, Americans went to the polls not just to elect a president but to vote for congressmen and senators. And then there are also the ballot initiatives, referendums on a host of issues from high-speed rail corridors to school vouchers. The experts point out that democracy is not an absolute end in itself.
Small states count The electoral college system does have many advantages.
A difficult few days will lie ahead. But Bill Clinton remains president until mid-January. And there must be many people who are relieved that the US system has this built-in delay before a new administration is expected to take office. 36 US embassy bomber gets life Colombia makes record heroin haul North Korea and US agree to talks Torsos found on Philippine island Work starts on Middle East truce Links to more Americas stories are at the foot of the page.