> > Hmmmm. And how many people like you did it take to get our 
> > current "glorious leader" elected?
> > 
> > Even if your bastard doesn't win, make the other bastards 
> > work for their victory!
> 
> I understand your point, but there is another side to this issue: Who gets
> elected has less to do with what happens than how the public reacts after
> they get elected. 

True. However, if more people were an *active* part of the political
process, things might change a bit.

Yes, this starts with voting and reading the newspapters, but it also
includes sending feedback (via letters) to legislators.

> Think about this logically. What motivation does the president have to do
> what they say they will do after the election? Well, you could say that they
> must have good ratings to get re-elected for a second term, but the public
> memory is not 4 years long (sad but true) so the president can do as wants
> for at least 3 years, then kiss up to the public for a year and get

Most of the public has a short memory. However, the groups with money and
single-issue adjendas typically have longer memories. And which is more
important under the US' system?

And the incumbant has a *lot* of power to grant voters things that they
want during this crucial period.

> re-elected. In the case of GW, it was 9/11 and the subsequent war. He would
> NEVER have been re-elected had that not occurred, because his approval
> rating was low even then. Now, after re-election, why on earth would the

In addition there are a very *strong* push from the right to get voters
out to the polls without a corresponding push from the left. I will admit,
however, that this election was the most well-attended I remember.

> President give a damn what the people think? They ONLY way they can get in
> trouble is by being impeached, and that would require a LEGAL breach that is
> clear and provable. I'm not going to argue that point right now... 

Ayup. Well, it doesn't really require *provable*. It's not quite like
the judicial branch, but essentially you're right.

> In general, only during the last bit of the first term is there any pressure
> on the president from voters.

Ayup.

> On the other hand, when people get pissed at the presidents political party,
> and start voting against members of the house, then you MAY get some
> pressure on the president from the head of the party. And that may, or may
> not, be effective pressure.

Maybe. It's at least one thing to try.

> The only real pressure comes from people physically demonstrating, going on
> strike, changing their buying habits and in other ways messing with the
> /personal/ interests of the person or his family. 

Physical demonstrations take a *long* time to work and require a large
portion of society to support them. Boycotts can be effective if you get
enough people to toe the line.

> In this case, reducing oil use. Bush owns an "oil and gas production"
> concern, the Lone Star Trust.
> http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/pfd2003/N00008072_2003.pdf I mean, come on!
> His approval rating is the lowest in US history! Does he give a damn?
> Obviously not.

Ayup.

> Bush made more money last year from investments in treasury notes and
> royalties in the oil industry than he was paid in salary as President of the
> United States.

Heck, the president of Penn State gets paid more than the President of the
US. The head football coach (Joe Patterno) probably gets more. I don't
think that you run for President for the salary (though the retirement
benefits are wonderful for them and expensive for us).

> http://www.pathtofreedom.com is the only answer now.

I like it. I don't think that it's the only answer, but it may be part
of the solution. I think that we have to change our lifestyle before
it is changed for us.

> James.

And I think this is getting too political for me. If I want a political
argument I'll go to rec.arts.metalworking. :)
-- 
D. Jay Newman           ! Author of:
jay@sprucegrove.com     ! _Linux Robotics: Programming Smarter Robots_
http://enerd.ws/robots/ ! "Heros aren't born, they're cornered."
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