It's now election season in Maryland, which apparently lasts all year long. I think some of the elected officials' terms last maybe two weeks. Anyway, this constant balloting leads to local groups (whose enthralling meetings I get to attend) telling their members that they need to vote.

It's not who you vote for, it's that you vote, they say.

There is nothing about this statement that is not retarded.

First of all, it is obviously quite important who you vote for. As an example, you wouldn't want to, say, overthrow a dictator and then vote for him in the next election. "Well, Saddam wasn't a very good leader, but I am familiar with him, and I do want to be a part of the voting process, so I'll write him in." Probably won't hear a lot of that in the December Iraqi elections.

No, as a matter of fact, it's who the people vote for that typically decides an election. Think about that next time you go into an election booth wearing someone else's bifocals.

Also, if you don't agree with me, I don't think it's the least bit important that you vote. In fact, I would encourage you to refrain from voting in all future elections.

Allright, that's resolved.

Next time, on a thrilling new episode of Blog 3000: In rural South Carolina, all was going well for a young, just-married reporter. All was well, that is, until a language barrier at a Thanksgiving dinner with the local Native Americans produced disastrous results. Robert Lojia guest stars. Stay tuned.