C.O. - It's obviously more empowering to vote than not vote, but what do you do when the major parties are all controlled by big interests that don't represent the ordinary public in the least?

How can your vote count when ALL the major parties will betray you once they are in office?

That is precisely what's been happening out there for decades, and the public can't do a thing about it. People who don't realize this are either unaware of it (which would be surprising at this point) or they're in deep denial.

There are independent candidates and small parties who might offer a real alternative to the Machine but they have utterly no hope of getting elected, because they don't have the funding and they are ignored by the corporate-controlled media.

It's a closed shop. Our elections are a facade, not a real exercise in democracy.

And that is why I would prefer to see all political parties disbanded forever...and nobody running for office BUT independents, all of whom would receive equal funding from a public campaign trust. Then you could have honest, fair elections.

Either that or just select adequately qualified people at random from the population and have them serve in government for 4 years as a public service (like doing jury duty) and earning a good wage. I swear I believe THAT would result in more honest and better government than our present ridiculous system, which is based on patronage and control from behind the scenes by people we never vote for anyway.

However, none of these things I suggest will happen.

Accordingly, I will enjoy my life as best I can, vote even though I have little confidence that it will make much difference, and concentrate on my own development as a human being in the meantime. After I die, it'll all seem like a good joke anyway, from my point of view at least. This too shall pass.

- LH