Oh what a Humpty Dumpty world this thread reveals. It is impossible for someone on the eastern side of the Atlantic Pond that both joins and divides us to give credit to the short-sight and misleading use of language that has kept it going.

To take a recent aspect, Nerd responds to a request for left-wingers in government by listing people who are admitedly in the legislature but are in the opposition to the government.

Secondly, there is an undferlying assupmtion that the USA is a democracy. Yea? Then how is Prsident Gore performing?

It is certainly true that the foundation of the USA in 1976 was much more democratic than the then current British constitution, but the rest of the world has moved on.

Face facts. The answer to the basic question of this thread, and of the actual discussion within it (which is normally Should Dem grassroots support Kerry rather than wiil they), must be different for different states.

Given the American voting system it is absolutely certain that the way an individual votes in 40 of the 50 states will not alter the decision, either because the state is incapable of switching to
its abnormal party support except in a landslide year. In those states it is not self-indulgent to vote purely to further a long-term objective. In the few swing-states voters ought to consider the possible consequences of their actions and should normally avoid quixotic gestures in favour of the common good. On the other hands if the preference for a third-party no-hoper is so strongly felt that you are unconcerned with the common good you have the right to vote for any old fool you like.

Richard