Indeed, good afternoon, Tom of Department Store fame.

Thanks for the informative and amusing message. I note that you too have a Natural Law party; does it too have ads on the telly with bouncing yogis? (incidentally, every UK party, no matter how small or poor, get its party political broadcast on the telly. I imagine that no US party with "Socialist", "Communist", "Worker" or indeed "Prohibition" in its name even gets a look-in.

The main thing that erks me about US politics IS the money thing. In UK anyone who can raise £100 and get, say, 200 votes, can become an MP (if he's elected) and on to PM. True, our PM and his wife ARE well-off lawyers, but that's by the by. Maybe you guys think "Well if he ain't a millionaire he ain't got what it takes to BE the president" - I don't know". Even your 1st was a wealthy land-owner.

When it comes to campaigning, what gives the pres the right to make free with Air Force 1, a Jumbo Jet at that! Our last PM, Major, did his campaigning literally on a soap box, from a tour bus.

Some French guy, during their revolution (Rousseau?) said of the British that once every 5 years we are free to vote for whomever we want - for the rest of the time we are just slaves to the regime, as in any totalitarian state. The governing party can call an election any time in the that 5 years, esp. if the PM wants to prove the country's behind him or not, or to get a fresh 5 years in if the country's in a good state and he thinks he'll win. Equally, the PM can change mid-office (without the leader being assassinated 1st!). So we vote for the party - not the man. You guys get this every 4 years, but your choice is little better than Hobson's.

The vote toting you mention is interesting. Centuries ago in UK, during George III's reign (probably the best-known past king in the USA I guess) there were what were called "rotten boroughs". A guy could get elected to parliamnt by winning an election in a borough with only a shapherd and his dog as his constituents. But, as you well know in the US, it's not preportional rep. (PR) that counts but the geog. area.

Incidentally, how is it that the "most powerful man in the world" can't get a quick BJ in his back office without getting villified, possibly impeached, hounded out of that office? :-) I bet Saddam never had that problem!

Nice talking to you

Cheers

Terry

>Good morning Terry;