>>>By the way, why is it that the people of the U.S. don't seem to view elections and the ballot box THE means by which to overthrow a government???? Is it possibly because of your Second Amendment "guarantee"?
>>>
>>>cheers
>>>
>>The reason why we don't view the ballot box as a valid method is because of our (incredibly outdated) Electoral College. You see, our president isn't elected from the 'raw' vote (people pulling the level, punching the chad, whatever), they're elected by whomever gets the most votes in the Electoral College, and the number of votes per state is based off of the number of members in the House of Representatives (based on population) plus the number of Senators (2). Here's a link if you want a huge headache:
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College
>
>OK. But that's just the presidency.
>
>What about the House and Senate?
>

>What about continuing to let the 2 big parties have a stranglehold on the system, preventing the emergence of viable additional parties.
>
>Why do people put up with 'the media' automatically relegating primary candidates as "second tier" and giving them only few and very dumb questions in "debates"?
>
>I can't tell you how often, when I bring up some issue, people respond along the lines of 'it's wrong. But what can we do about it?'... as if telling your representatives (Representatives and Senators) of your dispeasure is not included in the system. Why is it that everyone acknowledges that $$$$ controls the government yet nothing is done about it?
>
>Believe me, the controllers of the government are most pleased when an issue like "gun control" becomes a hot-button item because it's a perfect diversion letting them continue to run things as they want to.
>
Gun Control
Gay Marriages
Illegal Immigrants
"National Security"

Yeah....sad, ain't it?

>Your system is badly broken, yet a huge majority has relegated it to be unfixable.
>
>cheers

And I don't disagree with you. Yes, our system IS badly broken and most people want to leave the 'fixing' to the small minority that profits the most from this system, but there are those of us who do pay attention and do let our Reps/Senators know what we'd like to have fixed and how we'd like to see it fixed. "I don't mind you making a profit, I mind you making an OBSCENE profit"

As for your other points, and they're good points all, I think most of it boils down to either
1) people don't feel they have the 'power' ('money', 'time', etc), or "You got to pick the fights you think you can win" - yeah, but if you never step into the field, how do you know?
2) the powers that be 'works for them', or
3) it's easier to bitch about a problem than do anything about it. Our friends are quite aware that if they didn't vote in the election, they can't complain about how it turned out around us.

If the Republican Party (or what's calling itself the Republican Pary) continues down the path it's been going, it could very well be that we'll start to see a 3rd party form that will be made up of those of us who used to be Republicans until they lost their minds and those of us who are tired of the Democrats one and only rallying cry being "But WE'RE not Republicans!". I'd just be happy if either one would remember that whole "government for the people, or the people and by the people" thing.

We can but hope, but until then - some of us will continue to be that mosquito buzzing in the ears or our reps.

>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>(I tend to be more libertarian in my views than either of our most prevalent political parties)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>SNIP