>Good PM, Tom,
>
>A close friend of mine and also a veteran of the military told me, “I have never voted because I do not want to encourage the bastards”!
>
>Your close friend, as a result, has zero to say of any importance. Sorry, but just another bozo taking his freedom and liberty for granted. Good grief, what a copout. I really hope he has something more substantial that keeps him from voting. Apathy would be more excuseable IMO. In case he meant it as a joke, then I am overreacting and apologize.

This friend went through some bad incidents while in the Army. To this day he cannot eat meat as it reminds him of burnt flesh. He lost respect for all politics.

>
>Another friend has a favorite expression, “Come the revolution we will do it right this time”! :)
>
>Does this friend have anything concrete to offer? What would he change? How? Why? More laws? Less?



This friend is pointing out that no one government has ever “done it right”, regardless of the original intent, and do not expect anyone to improve government. I tend to agree.


>
>>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. :)
>>
>>Tom
>
>I enjoy my right to voice my displeasure with my elected 'representatives'. When 'majority rule' comes down to a majority of special interests or political clout and NOT a consensus of THE PEOPLE, then our government has failed - miserably. While R&I has had some success in some states (OK, some failures also), putting the power for all the little issues directly into these creeps hands scares the hell out of me. Look at all the crap (riders) that are attached to any major bill. Pork, nothing but pork. And the next generation will have to pay for it. No fiscal responsibility at all. Bah.
>
>And don't worry, my cards and taxes are paid in full. The smile comes and goes :-)

Personally, I take my right to vote very seriously! I have never missed an election and tend to discuss the issues with everyone I know. No one point of view is perfect or suits everyone so you make a choice.

I do have one quirk when it comes to voting though. I refuse to vote for anyone who runs for Judge! I have no idea of who they are or what they stand for.

I agree on the issue of riders attached to bills. That is a disgrace to our nation!

Thomas Jefferson stated, when government no longer represents the people the people have the right to overthrow the government. I think that all levels of government failed to represent the people years ago.

As Americans we have specific ideals. We were created as a nation under the premise of freedom, and the cry “no taxation without representation”!

The Whiskey Rebellion is interesting (as are all the rest) when Washington sent 13,000 men to stop the insurrection. Once we were a nation the people in office view things very differently than “the people”. That has only gotten worse.

The famous Mexican Revolutionary Emil Zapata, became president of Mexico. When he realized he was becoming like the man he despised and fought to remove from office, he walked away from the presidency. I think he realized what happens to a man when he is in power. He was killed for his efforts.

Tom