This book describes what the authors identify as an emerging political crisis in U.S. politics: the possible winning of the presidency by a candidate with far fewer votes than his or her opponent. David W. Abbott and James P. Levine stress both the irrationality and peculiar nature of the current electoral system, emphasizing recent and current political developments. On the basis of their computer analysis of past elections and modern political realities, the authors predict that within twenty years it is very likely that the United States will produce a wrong winner. In explaining how this phenomenon could occur, Abbott and Levine introduce the concept of the wasted vote; winning lopsided majorities in states is worth no more than winning states by one vote, due to the antiquated winner-take-all principle.

The book gives a brief historical overview of the electoral college and the structure of the existing electoral system. In addition to a detailed discussion of the wrong winner problem, the authors also explain that if no candidate gets a majority of votes in the electoral college because of the presence of a third party candidate, the House of Representatives must choose the president under an odd set of ground rules. This creates the potential for all kinds of nefarious political shenanigans. The authors conclude that the only satisfactory solution to the electoral systeM's shortcomings is the total abolition of the electoral college and a shift to direct election of the president by the people. "Wrong Winner" will be an excellent supplementary text in American Government, Parties, Voting, and Public Choice courses. It will also be of interest to political professionals, journalists, and political scientists.

In a climate of managed cost concerns, Scenario Role Play: The Blees Method provides the therapist with a powerful and efficient therapeutic tool for facilitating improved functioning with several clients at a time. Using "Scenarios" which are drawn from--and similar to--the kind of life experiences that clients face, this unique form of role play employs the group as a miniature society while the clients "play" themselves. This allows the group therapist to work with heterogeneous groups. It enables the clients to witness and experience alternatives to their maladaptive responses, helping them to change their thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns without the risks of loss of a job, or a marriage, etc. The norms of this therapeutic approach permit clients to "work" at the edge of their comfort level. After presenting the theory undergirding this group therapy, the book furnishes a step-by-step orientation to the process. Chapters show the therapist ways to establish a group, choose Scenarios and Role Characters, and set up a Scenario. Guidelines for observing the action, ending the "playing," and processing the event are provided. An appendix of 24 Scenarios furnishes tools for immediate use in the therapist's own practice. While Scenario Role Play has been relatively unknown, the therapist does not need to learn new jargon or change the methods of assessing or understanding clients in order to use this procedure, and can easily add his or her own interventions to the process. Since the method simultaneously incorporates intellectual, affective, and behavioral components, the client is moving toward more maturity wholistically. This book is a valuable resource for professionals who wish to work with groups in either in- or out-patient settings, including schools, half-way houses, etc.; as well as for professors and students in the helping professions.

This book describes what the authors identify as an emerging political crisis in U.S. politics: the possible winning of the presidency by a candidate with far fewer votes than his or her opponent. David W. Abbott and James P. Levine stress both the irrationality and peculiar nature of the current electoral system, emphasizing recent and current political developments. On the basis of their computer analysis of past elections and modern political realities, the authors predict that within twenty years it is very likely that the United States will produce a "wrong winner." In explaining how this phenomenon could occur, Abbott and Levine introduce the concept of the "wasted vote; " the fact that winning lopsided majorities in states is worth no more than winning states by one vote, due to the antiquated winner-take-all principle. The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of the electoral college and the structure of the existing electoral system. The method of selection of state electors is then scrutinized, along with the set of procedures that the electors work with until the formal announcement of the electoral votes. The authors also note that, under an odd set of ground rules, if no candidate gets a majority of votes in the college, the House of Representatives must choose the president. Whenever there is a third party candidate, there is a danger of a stalemate in Congress, creating the potential for "all kinds of nefarious political shenanigans." The authors conclude that the only satisfactory solution to the electoral system's shortcomings is the total abrogation of the electoral college and a shift to direct election of the president by the people. Wrong Winner will bean excellent supplementary text in Public Choice, Campaign and Elections, and American Government courses, as well as of interest to political professionals and political scientists.