One of the great things about being involved in politics is that you get the chance to vent your spleen on the issues of the day. There's great satisfaction in haranguing a Minister on his or her incompetencies in the Dáil chamber, and pointing out how things could be done better.
Of course voting also allows you to give your opinion, and can be equally effective in putting a stop to the gallop of politicians that you don’t agree with.
When it comes to international issues it can be difficult to make your views known. However, I’m fortunate enough to have a vote in the forthcoming Senate race in New York. My mother was American and that allows me to hold both an Irish and a US passport. I remember a Guard at a rowdy party back in the 1980’s threatening me with the loss of an ‘American visa’ if I didn’t pipe down. Little did he know that I had a passport available to me if I needed it. As it happened I did spend a fair amount of time in the United States back then, and lived in New York and San Francisco at different times.
I've held on to my dual citizenship, though at times during the Bush presidencies I've been tempted to give it up. The US Government seem OK about me holding on to it, (unless I'm actually serving in a 'foreign'' government), and the Irish Government seems happy enough about it, and even Michael has acquired a certain taste for Jus sanguinis in the last few years.
My time spent living in Brooklyn back in the 1980’s allows me to choose between voting for Hillary Clinton (Democrat) and Howie Hawkins (Green) in the forthcoming New York Senate election. I’ve enormous admiration for Hillary and her attempts to reform the American healthcare system, but at the end of the day she’s been hugely supportive of the war in Iraq. I wouldn't be a huge fan of Howie, for one thing he also seems to be a member of the US Socialist Party and the US Labor Party as well as the Greens, but I feel it's important for Hillary to know that there's concern out there about the War as she coasts home. That’s why I’ve filled in my ballot for Howie Hawkins as my choice for New York Senator in the mid-term elections on November 7th 2006.
One of the great things about being involved in politics is that you get the chance to vent your spleen on the issues of the day. There's great satisfaction in haranguing a Minister on his or her incompetencies in the Dáil chamber, and pointing out how things could be done better. 
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 8 November 2006, 11:22 GMT
Democrats seize control of House
The Democrats are celebrating gains in the House and Senate
The Democratic Party has won control of the House of Representatives in the US mid-term elections.
The White House conceded the Democrats had picked up the 15 net seats needed to wrest power from the Republicans for the first time in 12 years.
The party is also projected to have won four of six target Senate seats - but overall control is too close to call.
Correspondents say Democratic gains reflect voter discontent over Iraq, government corruption and the economy.
What's so bad about the US Labor or Socialist Parties?
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