if you haven't read this issue of the onion, i recomend it. here's my fav. bit. Though some take it for granted, U.S. citizenship comes with certain responsibilities. Here are some tips for being an active, involved citizen: <LI>Pay close attention to politicians' speeches so you can stay abreast of where their speechwriters stand on key issues. <LI>Young people should heed their civic duty and rock the vote. Older Americans are advised to smooth-jazz the vote. <LI>Engage others in tense, unproductive political arguments that break down into embarrassing exchanges of personal attacks. <LI>Make an effort to pay at least 50 percent of any taxes you owe. <LI>It is considered customary to bribe town/county officials with $500, state officials with $1,000 to $10,000, and federal officials with $50,000 or more. <LI>Visiting your state capitol is a fun and exciting way to get out of school for the day. <LI>Canvassing door-to-door is an incredibly effective, not-at-all-tedious means of bringing about change that will not make you want to chew your leg off. <LI>Start up a "Put The Dump Where The Poor People Are" movement in your community. <LI>Waste enormous amounts of your and others' time by speaking out at city-council meetings that drag on for hours. <LI>Though you may not agree with a particular candidate's views, you can express your opposition by setting his or her house on fire. <LI>If you live in Vermont, stop writing in Ben & Jerry on election ballots. It's been done a million times, and it's not funny. <LI>Whatever your petition is for, just say it's for retarded kids. Everybody loves retarded kids. <LI>Learn about your community's zoning laws by opening a sex shop on your front lawn. <LI>Make an effort to "follow" politics, much the way you would follow, say, sports or the career of J-Lo.
