Do you trust your fellow American to be objective??

What do you mean?

@Winterwanderer: I believed that in modern times open, virulent racism and sexism would be a deal-breaker in choosing a president. Not only were voters not bothered, many refused to even acknowledge it. It's discouraging.

I understand what you're saying, though the opposition spoke also of the incompetence & possible corruption of the alternative.

Also, in such a circumstance as was presented, both sides voted not only for a president with their ballot, but a whole philosophy of how government & society should be, even if conservatives or liberals did not particularly desire to vote for the available candidates, to not vote would be similar to a forfeiture of their way of life.

Objectively, many aspects of the entire system could be different, better, but what most gets the most attention is the result of this system, not actual reform of anything, though I don't entirely blame people either, as the nature of the system is very difficult to comprehend (often, it seems, intentionally so), and not so easily accessed or promoted.