[John Whitworth]

Doctor Stephen Hawking has given it as his political view that the British shold vote for Mr Miliband (the Socialist candidate) in the forthcoming election. I just thought you might want to know that.

[Tim Murphy]

The Brits should vote for Boris Johnson. Or John Whitworth.

[John Whitworth]

Thank you Tim. How wise you are. A vote for me is a vote for the world of yesterday. A vote for Boris is a Fun vote.

[James Brancheau]

Well, good for him. I don't know Mr. Miliband, maybe he's truly awful beyond ideology. I just read a short article that mentioned he really wasn't much different, or different enough from Cameron. You know, that's the problem for us lefties in the states. We've been pulled so far to the right that anyone arguing for something reasonable (not to mention moral), like say, national healthcare, comes under attack. So I'd like to see anyone pulled to the left. The good news, in a way, is that Republicans are so ridiculous (insular to the point of denying reality) that winning the primaries means being buried in the general. The bad news is, again, Democrats still feel compelled to nominate someone right of (what used to be) center.

[Gail White]

James, you are a spotlight of sanity on our dark political stage. What are you doing in Taipei? Come back here where we need you.

[John Whitworth]

But my dear James, NOBODY dares to have a bad word to say about our health system. We all know it is the best in the world, wonderful beyond compare and that Americans would lay down their lives to have it. Wouldn't you now?

Is it nice in Taipei? Wouldn't it be even nicer in lefty old China?

[James Brancheau]

China is terrible in many ways, John, but I don't think we'd agree on why it's terrible. China no longer resembles communism, but just a bunch of people who happen to have connections, power, and money.

[John Whitworth]

Sounds like communism to me. Except in Cuba. Do we agree about Cuba, James? Terrific Health system.

[Shaun J. Russell]

"And then the thought occurred to me: Eratosphere needs another thread about politics!" - said nobody.

[Michael Cantor]

Originally Posted by E. Shaun Russell

"And then the thought occurred to me: Eratosphere needs another thread about politics!" - said nobody.

It's not about politics. It's an attempt at entertainment. It's about John saying whatever blather comes into his mind, but being sure to scream "communist" now and then to keep the troops entertained and get some feedback; Allen seizing on one more opportunity to spout nonsense; Tim waving his Boris Johnson banner - and everybody else either ignoring it or sneering.

The problem is that we have an election campaign already started in the States, and there are so many fools scrambling to get to the right of each other - and looking so absurd in the process - that there is nothing that our Sphere colleagues can say (and I hope I'm not proven wrong) that would be as entertaining.