Fayerody,

I made an appt. with my county elections registrar before I left and got my ballot about six days before I flew out. I'm so glad I did as just the day before the local county, school districts, supervisors, etc. info booklet had come out. If I hadn't taken the time to go into the county building and get my absentee ballot I wouldn't have had full information about local and state voting issues.

I read the ballot measures aloud to ma and she was stunned that I actually read the legislation proposed and who is actually behind each measure (16 or so this election in CA). The language is designed to confuse and I can understand why so many voters are disenfranchised.

That all said I am grateful that I am able to vote by mail from a foreign country. I've spent my life growing up watching politics (lots of my friends from elem. and secondary school had parents working their way up the legislative ladder in CA politics) and watching voting in other countries. People being shot for casting a ballot. People trekking by foot tens to hundreds of miles to cast their vote. People standing in line for hours to vote. People in countries that are holding free election for the first time in most citizens lives.........they understand the privilege that voting is.

Whenever I think of this I feel saddened by how few people in this US of A realize the importance of participation in the electoral process. The voter apathy appalls me. I figure if voting can be done by absentee (permently in some cases) while sitting in your robe and eating cereal then why are so many unwilling to even fill out the form for that absentee ballot?

We're fortunate to live in this country despite the differences in administrations over the years. Even with the Patriot Acts we still have more freedoms than a majority of the world.

Maybe I should burn my flag on Tuesday. It is weatherworn and need burial or burning. I'm sure it would incite some locals to get out and vote. Hmmmmmmmmm........???

There's my political rant for this season. If not for the Newshour with Jim Lehrer I wouldn't have watched much coverage of this season's slinging and shuck and jive show.

Glad I voted even though I don't get a sticker for going into my polling place I'm happy that I have the right and freedom to cast my ballot and write in candidates when applicable. [color:red]Democracy only works when the people participate in it.[/color]

ARGH!! Why bother with editing when it just removes the UBB coding?! ARGH!!!!!