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This paper adopts an information systems perspective to study the recentAmerican presidential election. The election may be seen as a decision makingprocess to choose the leader to represent the wishes and interests of the people. Thesystem supporting the process is an information system, with information technology,inputs, outputs, users, human operators, procedures, assumptions, and goals. Theinformation system is supposed to serve as an objective instrument to support thedecision making process of political election. But its functioning is deeply embeddedin the political life, with its history, institutions, procedures, norms and strengths andflaws. The output of the system is thus a good enough answer, rather than the mostaccurate answer. All these aspects feature prominently in the recent election. Inaddition, the impasse in Florida reveals several problems; the more important ones are(1) the controversy surrounding voting cards that not clearly punched (2) the use ofoutdated technology, (3) the tension between democratic ideal and legal and politicalexpediency.

Abstract: Emotions play a pervasive role in determining advertising effectiveness. However, it is still a controversial question as to whether pleasant or unpleasant advertisements are more effective in attracting donations. We recorded self-reported valence and arousal, as well as physiological activity (skin conductance, heart rate, and facial electromyography), while 54 participants watched affective pictures of dogs and made decisions with regard to possible donations. More unpleasant pictures provoked larger donations. Corrugator EMG was the most closely related to donations. A change in heart rate and zygomaticus EMG also correlated with charitable giving, but to a lesser extent. Hence, corrugator EMG could be useful in studies of emotional influence on prosocial behavior. With regard to stimulus characteristics, homeless and sick dogs provoked a greater affective response and larger donations.