Politics again --what is happening to me ?!

Well if nothing else I think the last three 4 year elections are my slap upside the head from god/universe whatever that I cannot continue to simply stay on the sidelines while the politically enthused pick the candidates. I haven't had a presidential candidate I was excited about since I cant remember. Reagan maybe, but I was too young to vote in his first race and I think I hadn't gotten organized to vote when I was at college the second term.

I don't mind so much not having a president that thrills me if congress is working. I disliked how Clinton seemed to delay decisions or announcements until the polls showed acceptance but the country seemed to work pretty well with the republican congress as a counter balance.

But really the choices of candidates these last few times are as big a slap upside the head as a person could get. What did Bush have going for him besides nostalgia for Reagan and appeal to the religious right? Gore should have won between the two of them -- the country was happy with the status quo, but he came across as such an elitist snob (or at best we had Bore vs Gush ) that folks simply couldn't vote for him. I voted 3rd party. I voted for Kerry 4 years ago but I didn't really trust him fully and I felt the country was not going to elect a "Massachusetts liberal" Now I simply cant fathom how in Hades we went from Kerry = too liberal to Obama is just right.

So I simply cannot join the dems, I don't see any good odds of wresting the party back? from the socialists who dominate it now. That leaves the republicans. I'd like another contract with America this time to get the entitlement monkey off our backs and if they don't get some sensible views I think they just wont get it -- IMO we have to limit who gets these entitlements, mainly with higher ages to be eligible. And I don't think an across the board rise in ages will work. It needs to be couched as affecting only the upper class. So I would propose something like -- minimum age X, OR X # of years contributing FICA taxes full time. Honestly scientists, middle managers etc that spent 4-8 years in college before joining the workforce are as a group much more able to work into their 70's than a coal miner or construction worker -- and if they would prefer not to, they are more likely to have saved up for retirement and they can manage a few years on their own before they need social security and medicare to cover the gaps.