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Henry Dallimore found true love in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and emigrated there in 2006.

These are his messages back to Shorelink Community Writers.

Henry's First Message

I am quite elderly really I suppose (72 to be exact) and have recently emigrated to Pennsylvania and got married in June this year. I shall be sending "Letters from America" from time to time (in memory of Alistair Cooke), but we have been having a nice summer and fall and I have not got into the rhythm of sitting at the computer and writing. I joined Shorelink in the summer of '03 and write both prose and poetry, I started on my first novel in January 2000 but all I have written is the prologue and first paragraph of chapter one! So I doubt if it will ever get completed. My interests are railways together with most forms of transportation, digital photography and video making (no not that sort Missus!!). Since coming to America I have become a volunteer at our local library giving lessons in computer basics, digital photography and video.

Henry's "LETTER FROM AMERICA"

#29

May 18th 2010

Today is voting day in the mid term primaries. The final vote will is not be held until November. The same formula for this date is as the Presidential election except the year is “two years after each leap year”.

The system is totally different to that in Britain; To vote in these elections you have to be either a registered Republican or Democrat and you may only vote for those candidates standing for your Party. You may also be registered as an Independent but in this case you cannot vote in a primary election. It is possible to change your party affiliation by going to the Courthouse and making a declaration to that effect. At the November election you may vote for any candidate.

Perhaps an explanation of the two major parties would be in order here. The Republicans or GOP (Grand Old Party) are roughly equivalent to the right wing of the UK Conservative Party. The Democrats are equal to the UK Lib Dems. There is no equivalent to the Labour Party - too far to the left for American taste!

This morning I went with Joanie to the polling station. Unlike England I had no problem in going in with her and standing next to her while she cast her votes. The system is quite simple. The voter firstly identifies himself to the Clerk either by means of a voting card, driver’s licence or any acceptable form of ID. He is then handed a credit card sized card. This is placed in the reader of the computer and the chosen candidates marked on a touch screen. I am not sure that every State uses this system, I can only answer positively for Pennsylvania.

The positions for this election are:-

State Governor
Lieutenant Governor
United States Senator
United States Congressman
Pennsylvania State Senator
Pennsylvania State Congressman
and various other minor appointments, too numerous to mention here. This stage of the process is a “first past the post” system

It has to be said that is a closely watched election. The President is a Democrat and a massive swing to the Republicans is forecast in November. This will certainly make Obama’s job even more difficult that it is.

But having said that, there is great disillusionment and anger with the Government and many candidates are standing as “new” politicians. Less than 50% of Americans have faith in Washington and there have been quite a few scandals involving the Country’s Leaders both at Federal and State level.

A few words about the United Stares as a whole. As you may know it comprises 50 States. Each State has it’s own constitution and passes it’s own laws. There are of course federal laws to which each State is subservient. In addition each County, Borough or Township also has local laws (same as UK Byelaws).

I hope this has helped you all in understanding the electoral process over here, now on to one or two snippets of useless information.

Light switches, these work the other way round, up for on and down for off. I made an error when I told you about vehicle licencing. The sticker for the state annual safety test is on the windscreen and the registration tax sticker goes on the licence plate; so if you buy a new car, your licence plate, with the sticker, goes on it and you don’t have to pay anymore tax. Even brand new cars have to pass the state safety test and have the windscreen sticker. This test is the equivalent of the UK MOT.

Domestic appliances. Washing machines can be up to two thirds the size of those found in laundrettes, ours is about a half. We have an oven with a halogen top which is 50% bigger than one found in UK kitchens. Of course we have a dryer, this is fitted with moisture sensors and doesn’t stop until all the contents are fully dried. In fact there are pit props under the kitchen floor in the basement; this is because the house, built around 1850, was not designed for the loadings imposed by present day appliances. We also have a dishwasher and waste disposal unit so I am definitely now not used to doing the washing up!

Until next time.

BFN
H

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