[Dominic Harr]

I would argue that the Contract with America was the last time an election truly turned on political issues. Once the conservatives "won" their leaders forgot that the fight had just begun.

I'd agree. But that was the last time it was tried -- no one since has even tried to put together a serious 'political reform' movement.

So the last time it was tried, it won in a landslide. It also created a landslide for Reagan. And it was what got Bush I fired -- "no new taxes". Since then, we've had 'social conservatives' like GW, who I believe is a good man, but could barely beat total loser candidates like AlGore and Kerry. So clearly *that* is not much of a winning strategery. :-)

Yes, people are pretty much clueless. But it's always been that way. In fact, because of the Internet, I'd argue it's better than it ever has been.

But people are people. Most folks are overwhelmed just trying to live their lives. They don't have the time, energy, brainpower, whatever, that is required to get into a lot of this.

[P-40]

no one since has even tried to put together a serious 'political reform' movement.

That is the sad thing....because such a movement would win in a landslide *IF* it were done by candidates with a record of being conservative...and I think we have a shortage of those right now. :)

People do tend to be limited on what they have time to learn...and that is okay. You'd hope the media would do at least a halfway decent job of trying to get them informed on at least a surface level, but that would not be a big seller. And in many ways the Internet has made them less informed...or more informed on what amounts to...crap.