[Jeff Higgins]

I love the German - American comparrison; it rings so very true. I'm half German, raised by a German mother (and an Irish father), spending summers in Germany as a kid with my oma and opa. I can tell you about that (in)famous German adherance to rules.

I had to laugh the other day watching the Top Gear video on the Veyron at the VW test track. The very British driver (Jeremy Clarkson?) made a comment about being briefed on the regulations concerning his use of the track. His speil ran something like "we are after all, in Germany. Here we have regulations. I like regulations." Just true enough to be very funny.

So how do we address the other issue you raise, voter apathy? No one seems to pay attention here. Is it a feeling of powerlesness against some big "machine"? Maybe. I have heard my German relatives comment that we are not really offered choices on the level they are; all of our candidates, both of our parties, are relatively "centrist" compared to the broad spectrum they see in Germany. No one here sees a very dramatic change in their government despite a dramatic change of those who govern. Maybe a guy like Obama, who can afford to hang it out there a little more, could offer that visible change and jar some folks from their apathy. Kinda doubt it, but maybe that my Irish side coming through.