I respect your sentiments but having done three years of service for the voting system, and making suggestions, lots of noise, and trying to get anyone to hear me for some solution or change in the system I was working within, I got absolutely nowhere. As a consequence I determined my energies were probably more appropriately spent on preparing for the possibility that everything may break to the point it can't be covered up anymore.

A band aid may "fix" a wound, it may even heal somewhat but if the problem is substantial stitches or staples are necessary. I think if the issue isn't corrected with something substantial and appropriate, the healing done with the band aid isn't going to hold (unless of course the wound is immobilized). Any movement at all and the healing gained from the bandage breaks open and the bandage is then ineffective. I think we need more than a band aid here.

I honestly feel that even if EVERYONE voted it's merely a band aid on a gash that needs something akin to at least stitches (and probably more likely staples). The corruption within the existing system cannot be ignored. Even for the people in Florida that did vote it didn't much matter. To further illustrate my point, the corruption is so bad and so "normal," that it's simply accepted that the police forces in most major cities are crooked (this is true of many small cities now too). The last time I checked the police are pretty low on the political totem pole but it's a good indication of how far and how deep the poison of corruption is within a social system.

When this system breaks there will have to be people that can help others through the "shocking" trauma of it all. When people don't have TV to confuse and amuse them anymore, when there isn't a quick-e-mart or a McDonald's for a quick bite to eat and people need to actually make bread (or even flour). My call to duty will come, without a doubt. If it doesn't and the system somehow sheds itself of the corruption and manages to actually be of the people for the people again... I'll be surprised and pleased, and intensely grateful that your actions have generated something on par with kinetically shifting the power of a star. The path I'm choosing however is slightly different than yours.

I respect your belief that it can work and I support your efforts. I'm deeply impressed that you have the wherewithal to express your views and intentions without fear and without insult. Thank you.

I sincerely hope that the respect you express will be granted from others on your side of the table, whichever way things work out.

My personal hope is that a restructuring, a humanitarian restructuring happens instead of a continuation of the current... game. However, if I can live comfortably, make music, afford some of the toys and all of the tools I want, trip here and there, and my friends and family can reasonably manage some degree of comfort, I will be more inclined to accept the status quo and roll with the lack of responsibility and lack of freedom we're being granted. On some level this means I'm up for sellout status. Though I do think it's more likely I'll win a lottery I don't play. Lead is considerably less expensive than a lottery ticket and I think the odds of that finding me, should any kind of movement happen, is more likely. People are resistant to change. They fear the unknown. Familiarity is preferred to ethical action. And everyone has some kind of price (that is not always material or financial).

Hopefully your beliefs are stronger than my observations.

I do not see the choices offered in the voting system as anything more than a choice between the type of orange. More accurately I think it's two oranges from the same tree. Sure they may seem different but they are fundamentally the same. There is plenty of advertising and lots of people telling you that orange A is better than orange B but in all reality, are they all that different? They've even gone so far as to stamp a different name on each. I don't really believe there is really that much difference. They are still oranges from the same tree. I stand by my choice to not vote this year.

Regards,

TripSeven