I have heard the theory about a "permanent"and hidden government behind a transitory "elected" government. I did not want to believe. I categorized it with the other conspiracy theories as zany as the Illuminati.

But Big Brother is alive and growing, and I fear our ability to even fantasize that we are the freest people on earth has come to an end. How in the world do the democrats even spin such an abhorrent act of treachery?

doesn't exist. The way the elections are set up requires candidates to geek. The fact that Corporate contribution is an issue is in itself very telling.

We voters are unforgiving and forgetful at the same time. We scream that we want a real leader, but are uncomfortable when these candidates show passion. We want them to work for us, and at the same time allow campaigns to be funded by corporations. We want change, but we are not willing to create it. As the old saw goes; we get the leaders we deserve.

These men showed the greatest of devotion to our country....not only from putting their lives in harm's way, but most importantly - by facing great rebuke from their own country's politicians and people by telling the truth.

This kind of courage is truly rare and it deeply saddens me that our country would waste such noble men.

My deepest respect goes to you all, and to the families who lost such wonderful men.

I think the key to what both religion and politics have in common is the need for power to influence. In both of these concepts Greed and Corruption are the handmaidens to this lust.

Its all so very human, and may well have genetic drives. Certainly the fear of mortality plays a role in the persuasion of religious belief, although no one gives much thought to how boring eternity would be locked in the same ego. There is also an inherent conflict that these two instruments want to create change but do not want to have what they created changed.

That so many of us question such authority is refreshing, and gives some hope that humans just might evolved some system for cohabitation on this ever shrinking planet that does not involve slavery of mind or body. That is about as close to Divinity as we could ever hope to get.

I think this quote of Cossacathon says it all:

"I think principled objectivists are allowed to be hypocritical as long as it is motivated by self-interest.

When the great Philosopher Jean Paul Satre was asked what he foresaw as the greatest problem facing Society in the future, he answered:

Parking.

As both the author and Amity has pointed out, it has never existed in America -even though virtually every person in this country believes in these ideals and falsely claims the USA is democratic.

I believe that unless we can achieve public financing of candidates, and bring in a strong third party, we the people will never rule.

I also enjoyed the letter comparing American politics to British style. As Jessica Mitford wrote to her mother; "Things are done much faster in American. They do not "stand" for election, they "run" for office!

And I am one of them, are appalled that people could vote for her simply because she is female. Of course I want to see a female as Prez. but it is going to take a while to be able to get the public to accept a woman that does not have to appear more ballsy than the guys.

Personally I am sick and tired of the two party system. I am registering Republican (while holding my nose) to get an honest politican(possibly an oxymoron) in the seat and give the libertarians enough voice to creat a viable third party-pulling from left and right.

I have been an activist for prison reform, homelessness, and Death rights for twenty years. I worked with Jessica Mitford and Bob Treuhaft- very famous communists.

I switched to Republican to vote for Ron Paul. The ideals that Berkeley Breathed swayed Opus with are my ideals. I have first hand knowledge of how government's screws up the best intentions of idealism, and makes you pay more for it. For every law I helped create- behind closed doors-using "trailer bills" four bad laws were added.

Stop the war, stop propping up dictators, stop the Patriot Act , disband the CIA, dismantle all "pork spending"...all these resonate with my powers of critical thinking. Is it any wonder that Ron Paul and Kucinich are good friends? Ron Paul has even mentioned having Dennis as a running mate. Imagine a world where these two guys hash it out to come to middle ground... Stop your knee jerk reactions and think about this for a moment.

And they say Ron Paul is a nut case! Who would you rather see as prez?

Obviously a major overhaul of how the USA interacts with the rest of the world is required if we are to stop the "forever wars" we have been building up to since the cold war. Everyone is aware that virtually every dictator in the middle east was created by our own manipulation. Pulling out the troops in Iraq is not enough to slow down, much less halt the tremendous fear and anger that has built up in the Muslim world.

It is greatly doubtful that any of the Democrat candidates (with the possible exception of Kucinich) will not uphold the military buildup and the rule of the Pentagon.

For this reason alone I have quit the Democrat party to vote for Ron Paul. Enough with the posturing to show how "tough" we are with people who are barely out of the stone age. This madness must come to an end if we truly believe in peace.