That first paragraph was interesting. I am pompous and lazy, but that's irrelevant. Your friend made a smart decision, but that is also irrelevant. I'll tell y

That first paragraph was interesting. I am pompous and lazy, but that's irrelevant. Your friend made a smart decision, but that is also irrelevant. I'll tell you a little story though. When I was in Basic, there was a time when all the trainees were gathered in the church, roughly 2,000 of us (nothing religious, just used because it was big enough to accommodate everyone). We were asked why we enlisted. Only a handful raised their hand who thought it was their "patriotic duty." After college, I will probably go into the Special Forces. Not for any patriotic fluff, but for the challenge, adventure, and to save people. So you shouldn't feel such a burden unless you live in a swing state. Voting for a third party is a symbolic gesture, but so is not voting at all. FWIW, I'm voting for Nader tomorrow morning. The rest of your comment is ridiculous and should be read aloud before submitting and proof that politics should be banned from news.yc.