The day I leaned to hate politics.

[KingMerv00]

Before the last election, George W. planned on having a political rally only 2 miles from my apartment. I didn't particularly like the guy but I figured "what the hell".

I got there early, parked my car and saw that there was still plenty of room near the stage. Unfortunately, I was directed to a location thousands of feet away. So far away in fact, I couldn't even hear the speeches in spite of hefty amplification. I had to hang out with the shrill ultra-liberals.

As time went by, I noticed that some people got preferential seating. Turns out you need to donate sizable amounts of money to the campaign to get close enough to the stage to appear on camera or ask questions.

Typical republicans...right?

Well, the exact same thing happened to me a few weeks later at a Kerry rally in Philadelphia. Seems spin-doctoring isn't limited to one side of the aisle.

Both parties claim to be the arbiter of truth but both only seem to care about appearing clean-shaven, preaching to the choir, and avoiding a serious exchange of ideas.

Hasn't the whole politcal system become a huge joke?

[CFLarsen]

So, what are you going to do about it?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
So, what are you going to do about it?

Not participate.

That's what I do. Or don't do.

[Tormac]

Not participating in elections is a vote for the status quo. I understand why many do not vote, a choice between the Republicans and Democrats often does feel like a choice between a Labrador and a Collie, either way you still get a dog. But not voting (I assume that’s what you mean CS but not participating) surrenders one’s political power to the two major parties.

As long as the status quo gets a party’s people elected, then it is in the interest of the party to maintain the status quo. Negative campaigning, shrill hyperbola, and tightly packaged sound bites (fed to us through today’s billion dollar media outlets) energizes the democrat’s and republican’s base. If it is keeping the two parties in power they would be silly for them to do something else.

As long as the disaffected, disgusted people do not vote, then why should either party care if the political system is repellant to them? The day that the Libertarians, Green Party, Natural Law Party, or independent’s like Ross Perot or Ralph Nader consistently get votes on a national setting, and start to win local elections, is the day the donkey and the elephant may change their performance.

[Number Six]

Even though it's unpleasant having to choose between a giant douche and a turd sandwich, since that is usually going to be your choice then you should go ahead and vote. Especially since Puff Daddy will kill you if you don't.