It's realpolitik, guys. The sad thing is, as long as you vote for the Republicans or the Democrats you will get hired guns for the ruling oligarchy elected to rule over you. I see no way around it, because "money talks". It's most unfortunate. I'll say this though...the Republicans are usually even worse than the Democrats (I say this as a Canadian, observing from outside) so I suppose that is some sort of a choice...

But not a very good one. In most parts of the world those two parties would be regarded as the two halves of a "conservative" party of a very reactionary sort.

It's a game. If you vote, you choose to play it. If not, you're shut out of it. But it's just a game...the pretence of "democracy" in what is really a one party system to all intents and purposes. You see, in any given party there is always a "liberal" wing and a "conservative" wing. The liberals and conservatives in Soviet Russia's Communist Party were probably as far or farther apart in philosophy than the Democrats and Republicans are.

It's like voting for the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox...meaningful if you believe the hype or hold to the traditional loyalties of family and clan...virtually meaningless if you don't.

- LH