While I agree that our voter turnout is dismal, lets not forget why---at least to some degree. the elite control the choice of candidates, the process,( money talks loudly) and the information our citizens get at election time. Hell they even control our mechanisms for casting and counting our votes. Stop blaming the non-voters--maybe they are wiser than the rest of us who keep beating our heads against the wall in a mostly rigged system. The non-voter instinctively recognizes that they were disempowered a long time ago, and frankly, perhaps, have better things to do than wait in the rain for hours only to find they aren't going to be allowed to vote anyway. Massive voter suppression is the name of the game for the people in power, on both sides, else why would it continue? The outcomes are so much more predictable that way, and stealing elections so much easier without the wild card of the sleeping giant. It's all well and good to encourage particpation in our supposed democratic elections, but first, let's be honest about exactly what we are asking people to participate in

I thought you were going to talk about the day that one of our elected officials actually did his job. I'm talking about Kucinich's attempts to make our Democratic process actually work the way it is suppose to.
Hoa binh

While your'e having a nice dream, Pat, toss in public financing of political campaigns.

I am hoping that single women, said to now outnumber married women in America, will turn out to vote in 2008 election in the largest numbers ever seen in our country's history. If they do, I think we're gonna see sense (Democrats) voted back into our White House and our Congress, the needed control of both at the same time. We should encourage and count on our single women to lead in America, perhaps in the world as a result.

Daniel David, you must be exhausted from having to find new ways each day to update and refine the stump speech. Perhaps young female-would-be-voters will be "green" enough to be flattered at the important role you assign them. I'd rather teach them some serious history and encourge them to start now to form a real alternative to the duopoly they will otherwise inherit and perpetuate. You are cruel indeed to seduce them with such empty promises. I, instead, will work to encourage all voters to vote their hearts and their dreams, not their worst fears as you so consistently promote.

And oh yeah, Hillary is doing well with this group of young idealistic women, right? So let's exploit their gender pride, not teach them something about rel idealism.

since1492: "I thought you were going to talk about the day that one of our elected officials actually did his job. I'm talking about Kucinich's...."

Not a chance, My Friend. CD gave him his day yesterday.
All I saw in the local and area papers today was a political cartoon involving an alien craft and an alien.
This country is not only self-destructing but being murdered by its citizens' apathy and t.v.-programmed smugness.

And staying on post--If D.K. doesn't get one helluva vote on primary day, this guy will NEVER get involved in politics again, leaving the lines even shorter by one more.

And on Election Day the 4th of July we should in our gatherings recite the Pledge of Elections, in which we pledge at the next opportunity to make our wishes known and our voices heard in order to keep our freedoms so hard-won.

The Colbert Rapport
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20071119&s=bogad

Pat LaMarche i am with you 100%.

Poet's proposed mandatory national holiday:

I say we dump "Columbus Day" because why should we honor someone who brought an inquisitional genocide upon the Aboriginal Native peoples of this hemishpere--whom he mistakenly and stupidly called "Indians" 'cause he just knew he must have reached "India" like he planned.

The new holiday replacing Columbus Day would be called "Freedom Day" on the years when any area of the country had no elections and would be devoted to giving patriotic citizenry the chance to have mass demonstrations in support of or in opposition to whatever issue(s) were important to them.

Yes, let's all push for a National Holiday for election day. We need to focus on each state's Secretary of State office- they control the voting procedures, and those officers, along with state and national representatives, can make election day a federal and local holiday. Ok, that's step 1.

We still need eliminate pre-registration, create fusion ballots, and instant run-off voting. If the elected people don't have to sell their sole for $ to give to the M$M for tv ads (and time), the whole process will improve (to OUR benefit). As we move towards a national holiday, we can also strike down the presidential debate commission. Candidates should have to debate in every state, hell every district- let's replace tv ads and fundraisers with public finaced elections focusing mainly on debates.

With the right people in office, we can kick the PR consultants out of the parties, and tackle the redistricting scams, discriminating election laws, and basic gerrymandering and intimidation.

Don't take no for an answer! And don't listen to the naysayers- these are GOOD ideas to believe in!

Most countries assure good voter turnout by simply having election day on a Sunday or Saturday.

The rather odd choice of Tuesday for elections day in the US - the busyest day of the week for most people, always seemed very suspicious.

Or, some countries, like Australia, make voting mandatory (yes, you can cast a blank ballot - but you have to show up).

Do you think Americans might be able to accept that other countries actually do some things better, and adopt their ideas?