First of all, I think politics are important. I believe our nation has the best form of government in the world. I especially know the importance of voting and I hope all of you will participate in the upcoming election.

What aggravates me is the separation of our government into two very different parties. The other day in the newspaper I read a column about the supposed differences between Republicans and Democrats. The columnist tells us that Republicans (or "Bushites") "lean toward evangelical Christian beliefs, tote guns, attend NASCAR races and prefer God in their Pledge of Allegiance. They are, in other words, ignorant, bigoted, intolerant, and un-evolved." She then describes Democrats (or "Kerryites") as "of course, wildly sophisticated, tolerant, educated and progressive."

Obviously, this columnist is an idiot. So why not just ignore her work? Because it is the heart of the problem! I believe that our two-party system turns people into morons. This columnist (and so many, many people like her) can do nothing but spew worthless crap about whose party is worse and why. These people talk and talk and talk but very rarely say anything at all.

In my eyes, the two-party system, though it may even be necessary, takes the focus of politics away from the most important part of our government - the individual. Every individual has the right and the duty to make their own choice every time, no matter what their party affiliation is or who they voted for last time. People like this columnist need to stop name-calling and think for themselves!