Bill D - "It seems to me that politics is becoming more & more a matter of how to get votes from the careless, ignorant and superstitious ....and those who are single issue voters... than of appeal to the folks who read, study and care."

Well, yes, of course. That's exactly the way it is, and it pretty well always has been so. It was that way back in the 1800s too. That's the standard political routine, Bill.

Those who read, study, and care comprise a rather small part of the population at any given time...besides which, you will find that those who read, study, and care do NOT all agree amongst themselves on what's the best thing to do either! As a matter of fact, you will find them backing or attacking just about every candidate who is out there, and arguing furiously amongst themselves as to why they are right and the other people who read, study, and care are wrong, dead wrong. ;-)

In the end it all becomes just a bit tragic and laughable, in a sad sort of way.

I don't expect politicians or the political process to solve my problems or save the world, and I know they're not going to. They never have in the past. They won't in the future. We'll muddle along from one thing to another, experience some disasters and some good times, and things will remain rather confused and imperfect from here till eternity. People, frankly, expect way too much from the political process. They are naive, like little children. They think that big "Mommy and Daddy" in Washington are going to straighten things all out somehow if they can just get the right Mommy and Daddy in office this time.

Good luck.