Mike, you ARE exactly right about this that political parties actually divide the country. George Washington warned against loyalty to political parties. What you have are people who genuinely want to help the country, but who are squeezed out by big politial bosses who make the decisions as to who will stand at the head of the party as their candidate. I also believe that there are many good people in our government who go there to do some good; for their efforts, I am grateful.

>Are you sitting down, Cecil? <g> I agree with everything you just said. (Well, I'm not from Texas). I don't think politicians are all corrupt, see previous reply to you, but a lot of the time they do seem more concerned with the battle between the parties than the public good. That is the part I hoped Obama might lead us past. What a dummy I was about that.