Reading this story on the Obama troop increase in Afghanistan, this song from Pete Seeger comes into my head:
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We’re — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Author: hankkalet
Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.
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Hank Kalet 
Yes, we are \”waist deep\” in the you know what. As VietNam era vet, (I didn't get sent to the quagmire, but did spend my four in the system.), I sometimes think we can never have peace. Maybe next election, we can vote for a \”peace\” candidate who is serious about it. Or we'll get another false choice. Argh!
We will need to change our electoral system before third parties even stand a chance in hell. The two major parties have a monopoly of power and they are not about to let a third party gain any significant foothold in our political system. I would love to vote for a viable progressive party or a Green Party that stood an actual chance of winning the White House. As it stands now, third parties are frozen out of the debates, they are ignored and marginalized by the main stream media and they are at a definite monetary disadvantage.What will it take to alter our electoral system to give a chance to third parties?Canada has 4 political parties and they are doing just fine; no bank failures and they had the sense to not get involved in the Vietnam or Iraq debacles.As things stand now, I have to vote Democratic to block some insane right wing fools like Bush, Palin or Gingrich from gaining power, you know, voting for the evil of the two lessers. I knew Bush would be a disaster so what choice did I have; I had to vote Democratic or \”waste\” my vote on Nader, whom I like, but who had no chance of ever winning. This is sad.
*** begin quote *** Revise the \”system\”*** end quote *** We agree that there needs to be a revision in \”voting\”. How about \”instant runoff\” so there are no wasted votes.And how about some integrity and security in the voting process? See in NY@3 where (once again) we find more votes than voters!