I'm not saying it makes no difference, Don. I am saying it doesn't make much difference in terms of basic foreign and financial policy objectives and how those objectives are carried out around the world. The Vietnam War was a classic example of that. It was prosecuted vigorously by both Democrats and Republicans. The domination and exploitation of Latin America has also been practiced vigorously by both Democrats and Republicans. Foreign democratically elected governments have been attacked and overthrown by both Democrats and Republicans. Bush's personal incompetence is quite spectacular....but that's a minor and temporary distraction. And it's one that will fairly soon be over. Meanwhile, the great Corporate Empire will continue raping much of the world in search of greater profit.

As to your personal representatives...well, good for them. By all means put your vote where you think it will have best effect. I do that too.

I think it would be well for people in the western democracies to get past a certain comfortable mythology....namely, that they have a truly representative government that serves the people. They don't. They would, if Big Corporate Money weren't able to pull the strings, but it is able to. People need to realize that before it can change.