McG of H: "In neither case is it the same as 'hating America'."

Agreed.

But you're wrong that "...seven out of ten Americans couldn't bring themselves to vote for either side in your recent elections..."

(a) The turnout of **persons over age 18** -- the "Voting Age Population" (VAP)--- is estimated at 39.3% Washington Post,
and will go up when official figures are compiled (because news-media estimates are based on votes cast for particular offices, which are always lower than true total turnout since not every voter votes for every office).

(b) "VAP"-based turnout estimates are skewed very low anyway, because a very substantial percentage of the VAP *isn't registered* and thus CANNOT vote.

(c) No, that non-registration rate is not chiefly a reflection of abstentionist policy-disenchantment with the political parties. Just as in the UK I'd imagine, it is more a function of economics, demography, and legal ineligibility (the VAP figures include a lot of non-US-citizens, temporarily disfranchised felons, etc.)

(d) Turnout of *registered voters* in this *off-year* election was probably 55-60%. In a Presidential election it is more like 75% - 80%.

(e) Example: In my not-hotly-contested state of Connecticut (no US Senate race here this year)last Tuesday's turnout of those registered, unofficially but very-close-to-officially --- this is my government office's website and I do the numbers so I know --- was 56.4%. CT 2002 Turnout. And when I get all the finalized corrected data it will be a wee bit higher. Trust me on this. :)

Granted, 50-60% turnouts are nothing to brag about. Still, let us be accurate. It ain't no 30% either. / BTW, what was it in the UK last May? ;)