Stateside With Rosalea: Around The Traps

**In the real world**

''I don't know on what lines the parties were drawn, or what principles they advocated. I think that the difference was just that some were in power and some were out, and that those who were out wanted in.''

So said a Greek immigrant in Life Story of a Pushcart Peddler, published in a New York newspaper, The Independent, in 1906. He was actually talking about politics in Greece in the time before he left his mountain village, but were he to come back to life in this century I'm sure that US politics would seem just like that to him too.

As the November 2 election draws closer, a couple of non-partisan volunteer commitments I've made have seen me out and about at public gatherings, tabling. As people come up to check out the information I have for them, it is clear that the issue in the presidential race is not the issues - it's the overriding desire to get Bush out of power and put Kerry in.

It astonishes me how easily folks from the progressive left, who wouldn't give Kerry the time of day normally, have been turned from the opportunity this election gives them to show what they think of the way the Democratic National Committee has turned their party into Bush-lite. There is no way that Kerry will win this election, and no way that there will be any controversy about the result. So why not vote your conscience?

Moreover, armies of Election Protection volunteers recruited here in the West are going to go to states that have had problems with their election systems in the past - eg Florida - in order to validate the results. Can't you just see the amused Republican gloat when the results come in in their favour - by a landslide, I would guess - and validated by the Democrats grassroots members who've worked as Election Protection volunteers?

But wait! There's more! The Democrats have been organizing letter-writing campaigns and volunteer-paid-for trips to swing states in order to register voters. Let me tell you, if anyone turned up on my doorstep and pestered me to register to vote, I'd might well do so just to get them off my doorstep, and then vote for the exact opposite.

**In the virtual world**

Now for the Ginzu knives - a little treat for you folks interested in how Democrats and Republicans relate to each other. Please note that for some reason totally a mystery to me, the colour blue is associated with the Democrats - despite their being supported by trade unions - and the color red is associated with Republicans - despite their being supported by business and property owners. You may have already seen something about this website on TV, but here's a link to the Comments page of W Ketchup. The W stands for Washington, right? http://www.wketchup.com/comments/

**In the ideal world**

The Natural Law Party is "thrilled to announce that the Ohio Democratic Party voted today (Sunday, September 19) to adopt the US Department of Peace in its state platform. This victory was won through the dynamic efforts of the Ohio NLP." Ohio becomes the ninth state party to adopt this plan for a cabinet-level department designed to "prevent violent conflict through scientifically proven, peaceful approaches."

The proposal, which was drafted by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) - who has now switched gears from being a presidential primary contender to being in a race to retain his Congressional seat - and the Natural Law Party, calls for the new department to be funded at 1% of the military budget (or about $4 Billion per year).

The proposal "also includes sponsorship for a University of World Peace, which will train professional peacemakers in effective conflict-resolution and peace-promoting skills."

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