Loyalty to a company is a silly and stupid choice, really. The company isn't capable of being loyal in return and is fully capable of dumping me without a moment's notice. Having once been madly in love with a straight Jehovah's Witness, I know all to well the feeling of unrequited love and, worse, its deleterious effects on one's soul.

Nevertheless, I remain committed to NetFlix. I can see how convenient Blockbuster's in-store exchange program would be, though I am not sure the lure of a different movie would get me to my car -- I am truly that much of a couch potato. The real reason I stay is I like being on NetFlix's side. I am a Mac user, too, even through the whole Gil Amelio Epoch, so know well how bad good companies can get. NetFlix has just been superbly wonderful. I have never had a bad experience or moment. Once the wrong disk arrive in the right sleeve and they sent the correct disk by overnight because I had planned the movie for a party at my house. The fellow on the line was not just nice, he understand how important our group getting together to see the last four episodes of Queer as Folk was. NetFlix is that scrappy little company that took on the big guys and is winning. Blockbuster doesn't have any real selection of gay films at their stores and NetFlix practically waves the rainbow flag. Blockbuster has that Starbuck's on-every-block, big corporate thing. I will likely find out NetFlix has a distribution center in Haiti and uses ten-year-old slaves to get me that quick return while using the money to support female circumcision, but they make me feel as if they are the nice, neighborhood rental store with the guy who loves movies (try "A Little Romance! You'll love it!) and knows just what I want to see even when I don't. Their website is beyond good, it is almost magic (what's that gay movie with the guy from Seinfeld? NetFlix quickly gets me Love! Valour! Compassion! Really, Hogwarts couldn't do as well).

I am just not sure I could take the guilt of leaving NetFlix and its going to take a whole lot more than a movie exchange to do it.

Let's extend your scenario to the true conclusion. Your old beater of a car is broken beyond repair and will not work any longer. You are the sole support of your wife, aged mother, and four children. The only way to get to your job is by car. The dealer doesn't sell Priuses. He's not a Toyota dealer. There isn't one in town and they are on back order anyway. You buy the Giagantor, not because you want it, but because it is within the choices available.

Making decisions and selecting from the choices available is called governing. We Democrats deeply wish we had a way to end the war. We don't. We can vote to not fund it, but the President can still use the military to fight it, until they run out of equipment (even then, I am not sure Mad George wouldn't insist they pursue Victory with bare knuckles). We cannot pass a bill to require the troops come home, nor any real restriction on the war due both to the Senate cloture requirements and a Presidential veto. The same problem exists with SCHIP. We past the bill we wanted. It was vetoed. We don't have the votes to override. Shall we let the program die, hurting millions of children? Or shall we accept that we can now only help some children and others will suffer great harm.

Look, the problem isn't with the Democrats. The problem lies with the American people. They not only voted in this silly ass of a President, but then re-elected him when they knew full well he was not only a complete incompetent, but deluded as well. In a democracy, you get the politicians you elect, not the ones you'd like. Bush has done lasting, significant harm to our nation. Perhaps the voters should consider more carefully next time.

Be glad we Democrats are willing to swallow are pride, take our lumps, and continue to act responsibly and govern, even with a madman in the White House and a disinterested public who elected him. The alternative is to do what you suggest, and make a bad situation vastly worse.