I have noted your objection to the idea of the Oligarchy, Bill. ;-) I regard it as naive. I think you are engaging in wishful thinking regarding the USA's political system and its possibilities.

In other words, I agree with Amergin.

I do not suggest that you do nothing, however. I suggest that you live as good and productive and happy an individual life as you possibly can...the same suggestion I would have made to a citizen of Rome during its long imperial slide into corruption and decline.

I also suggest you support any politician who genuinely stands up against the great lobbying system in Washington...but such politicians are VERY rare. Obama isn't one of them. I think Dennis Kucinich is one, but he's in Ohio, and you're not, so it's kind of a moot point in your case to mention him. I think Ron Paul is another (though I totally disagree with his odd view of socialism)...but he does have some other good ideas. I don't have to agree with a man about everything to recognize that some of his ideas are well worth listening to.

I don't think there's a dog's chance in hell that the 2 big parties will ever elect a maverick like Kucinich or Paul to the presidency, but it's nice to see that a few such can at least get elected to Congress.