As a member of what you probably consider the "older" generation, I have been watching for years as the efforts we have been putting into the environment, the economy, social change and a smaller, more efficient government are being dismantled by a new breed of young Republicans with protectionist ideals, and an even stronger belief in the US's role as world peacekeeper. I come from the generation that got sick of the wars and corporate scandals of the '80s, and used our power as voters to elect a government more concerned with our own economy, and the diplomatic process that for a few years, anyway, was starting to earn my country some respect in the world community.

Then I got to watch all of that undone in a few short weeks by a corrupt election that put the warmongers back in power. If it was only the "older generation" that had elected Dubya, we could expect that they would all die off soon, and the younger generation would hold the power. Unfortunately, the younger generation was just as responsible, either by those who voted for Bush, or worse, by those indifferent members of that generation who didn't vote at all.

The government does not ignore its voters - on the contrary, the government, and the people in positions of power, pay close attention to those who have the capability to remove them from office. Admittedly, large corporate interests wield a lot of campaign power, which can overwhelm the power of the average citizen. Still, the elections at local levels, like governors, state representatives, can go a long way towards changing the actions of the federal government.

It is more important now than ever before to study the candidates for each and every election you are able to vote in, and to participate so that your voice may be heard. Part of the reason Bush was given the Presidency was that people didn't turn out to vote against him. It could have made a difference.