Originally Posted by DeeBlackthorne

If I had it my way, I'd keep it really simple. I think I would take more solace in knowing that all votes cast were genuine and authentic and submitted with the equal right for everyone to have them count equally, rather than worrying about a percentage majority. I would entrust votes to the most secure processes possible -- whether we're still depending on electronic machines or have created better measures -- and I would tolerate cries of recount. But, let each vote stand on its individual own. That's real democracy. That really gives meaning to "one voice, one vote."

You know, I remember Tom DeLay getting into a lot of trouble for engineering the redistricts in Texas. Redrawing boundary lines to get more votes. And I would wonder why people would stoop to such crap -- because that's what they have to do to win elections. Not because they say the right things or mean to do well when they ascend to the state offices, but because politicians necessarily resort to trickery in order to get votes. And then what? It's just a stepping platform to some other political aspirations, and the rest of us who put faith in our leaders become left behind.

And that's what makes me sick. To think that politics is little more than some name-dropping, resume builder. It's time to reform and to gut out the crap. I think people will learn to talk, think, and love politics again when the gridlocking issues and partisanship are drawn to a close.

Plug: Divided We Fail