What do you think about the presumptive lock the GOP has on the Congress and the Virginia General Assembly? A passing fad or something to look forward to for the next decade?

George,

Isn't this what they said about the Democrats after the 1964 Election and the trouncing of Goldwater? They probably said this during WWII as well, and the Democrats were nearly in the same as the current state during the 1920's, etc., etc. The pendulum does swing and the two parties redefine themselves. The big difference is the ideological and near monolithic extremism of the present day GOP. It gives them a dedicated support that gives them a guaranteed 30 to 35% of the vote. The Democrats also have roughly a dedicated third of the electorate. It means the independent third still get to make the decision.

As for GOP dominance, the Democrats need but a gain of two seats in the Senate and twelve in the House and - voila! - it is a new Democrat dominance. Will it happen? I am no soothsayer, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

But it does go to show the real problem. The undemocracy of the two party system that stifles other views and other parties and factions. When the Democrats are in control, the GOP had/will have but one goal, to unseat the Dems. Now that the GOP is in control, the Dems have but one goal, to unseat the GOP. There are no other feasible alternatives for voters, which, after laziness, may be the reason for non voting. In the movie BREWSTER'S MILLIONS, Pryor created a demand for NONE OF THE ABOVE. Perhaps we should have the same option. There is even a web presence for those interested in the idea (http://www.nota.org/),. as well as a blue grass group with such a name.

Too many 'third party' attempts go right after the presidency, which has not been operable since the entry of the GOP. But there is a doable option. With the closely divided Senate, if there were five senators who would coalesce around one or more third parties (but act in unison), they would have immense power in the control of the senate and could effect some real changes. Perhaps twenty five could do the same in the house. Such would be enough to change our whole election processes. If we could only identify such Congressman and find a way to convince them. All politicians like power, and that might be a sufficient argument. But is there enough interest to make this wonderful revolution come to pass?

Bob Johnson (electronic mail, February 26, 2004)