American elections are gigantic open classrooms where everyone can participate and learn (although many politicos keep making the same dumb mistakes). Although most elections held across the state last week were predictable in outcome, they offer educational opportunities. Here are the lessons that should be learned, or reaffirmed, from the election.

Voucher vote, Referendum 1

Pignanelli: The following are the basic, elementary rules for any political endeavor that no one can ignore: Be nice to all children, avoid drooling in public and do not anger the PTA. Oftentimes politicos forget the last rule because the PTA never engages in partisan battles. But when they participate in referendums and other issues, they are an unbelievable force. (Nineteen years ago, the PTA reversed the momentum behind the tax repeal movement.) The voucherites irritated the PTA from the beginning, so any effort outside the halls of the Capitol was doomed. Also, they wasted months and money comparing teacher unions to Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy. Yet, in the final days they offered powerful advertisements (the woman who was cleaning bathrooms to support her children in private schools and the Larry Miller ad). Earlier use of these tools could have narrowed the margin.

Webb: The big political lesson here is to prevent your opponents from defining you on their terms early in the campaign. Vouchers supporters allowed themselves, early on, to be defined as anti-public school, which doomed the campaign. I believe Utahns want education reform, but we all like our neighborhood schools. The voucher message was badly muddled with references to Mormon educational history and all sorts of extraneous material. And what the heck was that Bill Clinton newspaper ad? The other political lesson is the FUD factor. It's always easier to spread Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and get people to vote for the status quo than it is to explain a somewhat complicated new program and get them to vote yes.

Salt Lake City mayoral race

Pignanelli: The rule "It is what it is" is in effect in Salt Lake City, and no amount of wishing otherwise or senseless dreaming by clueless politicos can change it. The lopsided results of the mayoral election hereby settle any further discussion about the political dynamics of the capital city. City voters did not swamp the polls to vote against Dave Buhler. They showed up in droves to make a statement that Ralph Becker embodies the qualities they want in a mayor: a non-Mormon undisputed liberal who practices an environmentally sound lifestyle. Republicans or moderate Democrats no longer need to apply for the job. Although the outcome was never in question, Equality Utah (comprised of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered members) demonstrated it could deliver a tidal wave of voters to the polls. Mike Thompson, executive director of the organization, is a powerful force in the city.