What the recent US mid-term elections show is that the overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to the war in Iraq, together with the growing social and economic polarization in their own country.

They have voted against Bush, not for the Democrats. I’m sure some of them even think that the Democrats will get them out of Iraq, however, in the not to distant future they are going to realise the futility of such hopes.

The Democrats are not opposed to the war in Iraq, they simply disagree with Bush tactically. Hence the calls for 'changing direction' rather than 'getting out'. Within the first few weeks of the elections the discussion has been about increasing, not decreasing troops in Iraq. In fact the Democrats have been saying all along that there should have been more troops. Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel has even called for reinstating the draft – a call which is receiving media attention and discussion among the ruling classes.

So we have a situation where the majority of the population wants out of the war, while both parties are intent on prosecuting the war to secure the region’s oil. The population is destined to come into conflict with the Government, and in particular, the Democratic Party.

What is the solution?

These are interesting times.

Fully agree with you, Tao. We could wonder whether the main things the Age of Reason and the following Age of enlightenment gave us was freedom for Western piracy against weaker nations. No wonder global historians use the term contrabandits. Didn't put Western always behind it though. No wonder the Arabs despise us so much, we have beaten them at their own game, and cleverly used our laws and literature to make it legit'.

George C - WA

What at the end of the day does substantiate political victory in democratic elections?

To my very understanding a quality of a personal existence voters enjoy under particular political rule.

Therefore, local visual achievements rather than overseas deeds vogue to The Averages rule.

That at least is what is in common between the US, Australia and other less prominent democratic countries where politicians’ dependence on their voters exists.