when are the international brotherhood of physicists taking over world government anyway? soon i hope, but maybe after my PhD. I call vice president! no wait – junior vice president!

Evan

(1) Americans are into their election coverage. See Jon Stewart’s `Indecision 2000 and Indecision 2004′ sketches on http://www.thedailyshow.com/ . When it comes to thinking carefully about our choices, we have a `kinda sucky’ track record.

(2) I think the electoral college system is partially to blame for the low voter turn out, among other things.

(3) Voters don’t have to register with any party, they can register as independent or change every year. Part of the purpose of this is to determine who can caucus (if the party only allows party members to caucus). Another purpose appears to be to produce an opt-out calling list for party phone-bankers to remind people of their party to vote. (Very annoying.)

(4) http://www.indecision2008.com/

(5) Unfortunately (in case you haven’t noticed it), American elections are driven by large sums of money, and hence by the groups of people who have large sums of money. (6-ish years ago the McCain-Feingold campaign reform act was an important step in the right direction.) This relates to the end of point (1).

(6) Also, the fact that the caucuses don’t occur simultaneously is a bit awkward. Historically, candidates who have won Iowa (the first caucus) have an advantage for the others — psychologically it shows that the candidate is the `real deal’ and is electable.

Evan

And that’s the essence of American politics. The Simpsons had it right the whole time.