(smiling sadly) I had this same conversation with myself driving in to work this morning. Very well expressed both graphically and verbally.

I think you've conveyed your meaning very well here. Great idea. Yes, it's really a shame about the political climate in the US. As long as you live by your conscience you can always look at yourself in the mirror.

AWESOME ONE DAVE~

I hear ya Man, It is a truely pathetic state of affairs. If I still lived in Texas I'd Vote for Kinky Friedman, he seems to be the only one making any sense these days. I just hope by 08 there will be someone of Character we can get behind and the Presidency isn't stolen from the People again. 5+5 Peace

Great looking image, as always. On the substance of your comments: Don't you think that beneath the usual BS and spin, each party is animated by a set of core beliefs? Though each party of necessity comprises a large coalition of beliefs and interests in some degree of tension, there is a fundamental, long-standing difference in major, broad categories like Economic (taxes and wealth redistribution/safety net spending), Social (differing conceptions of the phrase "personal freedom"), and Foreign Policy (war and peace, when and how to use force vs. diplomacy, and differing analysis and response to threats, percieved and actual). Depending on the candidate, his/her particular race (how close, and the candidate's read of the majority opinions in his/her seat/state/nation), sometimes they try to blur these differences, sometimes sharpen them, sometimes sharpen them over insignifant matters. But over time, I think these fundmanentally different approaches to recurring issues becomes readily apparent. This isn't an argument for voting party line, not by a long shot. I don't vote party line (I vote for members of one party except when they differ with me on some deal-breaking issues). But once in office, members of each party tend to vote and speak along these major fault lines. So I would ask (rhetorically): What are your core beliefs? Do they basically match up with one or the other major party, or perhaps a 3rd party? Please be assured that my comments are in no intended to be some kind of lecture, or a dismissal of your thinking. I am genuinely interested in how people come to a belief similiar to what you have expressed. I.e, I'm not "shouting" at you; I'm actually trying to just talk (which can be hard to convey in comment boxes on the web!) Thanks for stimulating my thinking on this. I hope you are able to reach some kind of middle ground between false, naive hope in the process and the kind of cynicism that leads to despair and withdrawal. I know it is an increasingly difficult balance!

Too true unfortunately. As already stated, you said and portrayed it very well.

I understand the "theory" of core beliefs and the basic differences between the two major parties in the US, Linkdink. In the past, that helped the decisionmaking process. From what I can see and hear, most of the energy spent in Washington is not making the those beliefs work for us, but to work for the betterment of their Party, only. As long as they can get their cronies elected and get a majority, they will be pleased. Between elections, it's "fight and accuse", not "work with and compromise". If you put a microphone and camera in front of a politician, they say "the American people" every few seconds, so we know they are working for We the People. Take the mike away and it's back to business as usual. If I don't like an elected official, I can always vote them out, but who am I voting for to replace them? That's my dilemma. It's who has a most money/least scandals that usually gets you on a final ballot. Not the best qualified. If there appears to be an honest ambitious candidate out there, they'll be swallowed up by the machine before they get their name painted on the door. thanks for the comments

I'm having a shirt printed up for the big elections, "Conscientious non-voter, why play the game when neither side plays fair!". Heck with the words, I like how you have the cannon balls embedded into the ground after they were shot (nice subtle touch). You rock as always!

You have to play the game, because you either play or get played. Abstaining from voting (all though very tempting) unfortunately does not change things, it only surrenders your rights to the minority who have a vested interest in the outcome (the corrupt, special interests, and crusaders of all stripes). You want an instant improvement to the american voting system? Enact 5 simple reforms. Require Picture ID. Dead don't get IDs issued or get to the polls, Illegals can't vote, and if you get a national database put together to prevent multiple votes by the same person, you're set. Ban party line votes. You can't vote based on a party, only on individuals. No more covering for weak or corrupt candidates like a union covering for incompetant workers. Put a "none of the above" on the ballot, and if that wins, all candidates in that race are disqualified, and you hav 60 days to get replacements and revote, this time without a "none of the above" on the ballot. Term limits for total time in government for EVERY politician. You can serve say a max of 20 years in government, then you're out no matter what level of govt you've served in/at. No more politicians who are nothing short of a noble class for life. Lastly, make vote tampering or voter fraud a hard felony punishable by life sentences (or death if you feel really malicious, technically it's treasonous). You wanna screw with our political system, you take your life in your hands. Find an individual that you agree with, and vote for them, or write in someone you'd believe could do the job, but vote before you lose the rest of your rights to a minority who'd take them from you. The silent majority is the enslaved majority.

It is hard to keep voting when you finally realize that your vote never really got a chance to count. I live in a state that is dominated mostly by one particular party--the one whose values are 180 apart from my own. In national contests I have never contributed one thing, since the winning party takes all. That aside why can't we tell politicians to shut up about the other guy and insist that they tell us about themselves and exactly why ("Be specific, now, Sir") they should be "our" candidate. Insist that they all make a public campaign promise to not put their parties before the good of the country and then hold them accountable if they don't. The truth is, most Americans are too busy (or lazy) to take the time to be informed on the issues enough to keep their representatives on task. When they do bother to vote, they vote their emotions of the moment and not their conscience--and emotions never get anything constructive done (as a rule). I'm with you, Dave. I'm 68 and have voted in every election since I was 18, mostly for "damage control." But anymore, there is no clear "lessor evil" to vote for. I will vote, but I go to the polls thoroughly and bitterly disappointed in the choices that I will be given.

ACK, too much politics, too little substance, still the best darn country in the world even with all it's faults.

I have voted one time in 49 years...and Bush still got elected! Can't wait to see what happens when the E-voting machine hacks have their turn!

Ok, all politicians suck (or almost all, there are a few exceptions to every rule). They become corrupted by power & money. And yes, most Democrats have been spineless at best & complicit at worst with what the Bush administration & Congress have done over the last 6 years. But are you prepared to endorse the direction we've been going - bloody, unnecessary military adventures that have only inflamed & alienated the rest of the world against us, the willingness to sacrifice our civil liberties & privacy rights like sheep because we're so afraid of terrorists & the replacement of the whole concept of "the public good" with "the corporate good"? Abstaining from the political process is an endorsement & acceptance of these values & results. If you honestly believe things are going well now & that no change is necessary, then by all means sit this election out. Otherwise, please hold your nose, vote & help push the pendulum back to a saner, less extreme government...

Yup, it's tuff and I always mail my vote in. I don't watch much TV and when I do its History or Discovery and the political crap hasn't made its way there YET. I like taking the time to research each person listed on my voting form from the comfort of my home office, then I make a decision. I have to agree, every year it becomes more difficult, and one day I may find myself throwing away my voter's card till some sane leaders and decision makers return. Great thought provoking image Dave! [=

Hah! That's even better than the blah-blah-blah machine. Well done!

i feel exactly like that. i almost didn't vote last time around.

i,ve met these guys posting on forums!!!