>>> - Visual FoxProLet’s overcome the inertia and leverage our skills to start achieving something useful. Do you have the e-mail addresses of the Legislators, Assemblymen, State Attorney General, Comptroller or Governor? What do you reckon – one e-mail a day, or one a minute? And who cares how long it has been since you asked your questions!

You would think a clever group like those on type on this board could cultivate contacts or develop sniffers that could dredge up email addresses for our representatives and develop some sort of COM that would publish our feelings on matters relating to the future of our country, our planet and global neighbors, to all those rascals. They feed on the whim of our good graces. We need to shorten the leash.

Representation should be like jury duty. If you can manage a house-hold budget - you can be a representative and, unless you have a good excuse, you will have to serve your term. Do the same things the elected politicos do - contract with professionals to explain the books. Do one thing different - don't let EXXON or ENRON or Haliburton explain the ins and outs of energy policy - we have plenty of non-aligned academics to help us with that. Don't let Carlylse Group explain the ins and outs of defense policy. Carlyle and EXXON care as much about the future of our world as TYSON Food cares about the future of chickens:-).

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>There are many viewpoints to any subject. In any dispute someone looses – it may be the masses or the minority. To be a malcontent is to enjoy the American experience. After all, we are a nation formed by the misfits, malcontents, social misfits, and undesirable elements of the rest of the world. Just keep a smile on your face, pay your credit card debt and taxes and all will be well. :)

Great commentary!

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>Tom