"This might be the Macro Election; the nearest we'll come to an American-style parliament when voters think as much about the next "leader" as they do about their member of Congress. It is one thing to like and agree with your representative, but what then? Will you elect a representative who is one voice? Or, does each voter have the power to change the course of the nation?

Most voters don't think like that. Most of the time it's enough to like your individual representative (even when you dismiss the rest of Congress). But this time around I hear people talking as much about who will be speaker of the House as they do about their representative.

One measure of this idea is when Republicans campaign on the message of change (while blaming powerless Democrats for everything that's gone awry).

This is extraordinary when you think about it. This time Congress will do a better job of policing itself; it will hold the president accountable for his policy decisions and they promise a new zeal for fiscal responsibility."

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: Voters look ahead to the bigger picture (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 10/22)

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