[xtian]

Yes: simply observe whose interests are always catered to regardless of the party in power. It’s not the average hard-working American.

Check who the major political donors are, who funds the NGOs, think tanks, and PACs which guide policy-making. Check who employs politicians after they leave public office and who pays their speaking fees. Check who owns the major media outlets. Check who funds the endowments of academic institutions. Check declassified CIA documents which show direct collaboration with entrenched monopolies in carrying out foreign coups and military interventions.

It’s a big club, and you’re not in it.

[cudgy]

Sorry for the nihilistic view, but sadly, we’d all probably be better off if we voted randomly regardless of the candidate’s party membership. Otherwise, we vote for the candidate that gets the most air time from our party of choice or issue de jeur, which is usually the most corrupt candidate.

Till voters wake up and realize that the problem is not with other people’s representatives or the other party, we are doomed to repeatedly make the same mistakes.

[xtian]

I don’t think there’s a reason to vote in most cases, but I’m not nihilistic.