Reply #17: No, voting is never a problem. You just have to pull the string; go back to the source.

[MADem]

If you are showing up at the polls with two choices, and two choices only, that means you have wasted two years and then some.

I don't mean you, personally--but "the greater you"--the vast bulk of citizens who simply accept the inferior candidate without trying to push him/her to be better, either with threats or promises. This means showing up in force at constituent meetings, writing letters, making phone calls, and letting your legislators know that you are paying attention.

That blue dog should have been primaried if he isn't representing the needs of a greater percentage of his constituency. Sometimes, even the threat of a primary will push a candidate to do the right thing, or to at least do better. Other times, of course, if the guy IS meeting the needs of most, you're stuck living with an imperfect representative. That doesn't mean you should give up, though--it's important to speak out and let 'em know what you like as well as what you don't like.