In response to Veronica’s post, I’m reminded of an anticdote between Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent in Duglass Adams’ “Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” In it Ford is talking about how a race of humans being oppressed by a race of lizards on a distant planet was a perfect example of democracy. WHen Arthur asked why the humans kept voting the lizards into office, instead of a human, or something that wouldn’t oppress them, Ford replied that they all believed if they didn’t vote for the lizard in office at the time, the wrong lizard would win, thus the same oppressive lizards stayed in power.

My interpertation of that little story from HGTTG is don’t settle for the status quo, make a change if you think it will be better.

One of my roommates at USC (Columbia) voted for Strom Thurmond. When I asked her why, she said that because he had remained in office so long he obviously must be good for the state and deserved to be re-elected. I have heard similar arguments made in NC (mostly by my distant relatives) for voting for Jesse Helms. I suppose there could be worse reasons…