Apart from the latest soap opera in Florida the loudest unoiled squeak comes from the ineptness of a US election process that was designed by and for 'gentlemen' on horseback. The carriage bound 'Founding Fathers' lived in a pre-electronic media age when they created the Electoral College. The reason for this colonial elitist holdover was to protect smaller interests from the tyranny of a self-serving majority. The pollsters, special interests, modern media, expanded electorate and a litigation-loving culture leave it gasping for breath.

The seesawing between Gore and Bush, the ballot question, the new nasty four letter word - chad - and voting 'irregularities' will cast a dark shadow on whoever becomes the next president. This is an archaic system in disrepair. Moreover this evidence suggests a structure in decline and like the comfortable pants or sweatshirt still worn despite the holes, it is exposing the bulge of an empire on the aging side of its lifecycle curve.