I have to say, I think you have a bit rose-coloured glasses here. Wotmania being better than most of the rest of the net is a fact, but regrettably that's not saying much. There's always been drama and harsh words. The only real difference is that there were more people and so political posts weren't quite as repetitive with the same people clashing in almost every thread - and people weren't quite as clique-ish about the politics as a result. Plus, there was the incomparable aerocontrols and his talent for annihilating shoddy arguments from any side without getting harsh or insulting about it. Having "critiques" from him on my posts certainly helped me.

... okay, maybe I do agree with you after all, then. But it did go into shouting matches at times, trust me.


I agree with this, but only as an inferior alternative for tackling the problem at the base and getting rid of the 100% FPTP system Congress now has - like Isaac suggests. Since that's likely never going to happen, the inferior alternative is probably best.


It's very odd with Obama. Like Isaac says, you have to wonder who's advising him - I don't even think his unfulfilled promises during the election campaign were insincere at the time he made them, yet you really can't say he looks like he's trying very hard to fulfill them.

Congress is less puzzling - there it's just a matter of perverse incentives that need to be dealt with one way or another if government in the US is to improve substantially (can you tell I'm an economist? ).