>Indeed, good afternoon, Tom of Department Store fame.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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!
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>Nice talking to you
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>Cheers
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>Terry
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>>Good morning Terry;