Evan Falchuk, the first candidate to run under the newly formed United Independent Party (UIP) in Massachusetts, knew when he started campaigning that he had little chance of becoming the next governor.

But even though he lost the bid, he still won, as his real accomplishment on Election Day – an accomplishment shared amongst most independent-minded Massachusettsians – was gaining the 3 percent of the vote needed for his party to become officially recognized by the state.

When logic and proportionHave fallen sloppy dead    ---"White Rabbit," by Jefferson Airplane

Obama is the WORST president ever!!!!! His immigration order is the BIGGEST EXECUTIVE POWER GRAB IN HISTORY!!!!!!! NOBODY has EVER been more obstructionist than Republicans under Obama!! America today is more polarized than it has EVER been!!!! Here are some more ALL CAPS and exclamation points to prove I am really SERIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Historically, the position of defense secretary is quickly filled either from the beginning of a president's administration or after a sitting defense secretary resigns. While the confirmation process can vary in time (still always relatively fast), it doesn't take a president long to name a successor to the previous or retiring defense secretary.

How do we fix the world's problems? One word: Respect.

In some terms, this means respecting others through individuality -- being a part of a group that is self-sustaining. For example, the out of work or the homeless working together to sustain cohabitation or partnership through economies of scale.

In other terms, this means reading the other person and not expecting them to ”read your mind” or react to you in kind. We are not all the same and yet we are not all that different when it really comes down to it.

"No Taxation without Representation," was a major rallying cry of the American Revolution. At the heart of it was the fact that Colonial Americans had absolutely no say in the legislation process that created taxes.

I have often wondered what our early Founders did toward taxation after the Revolution, yet never had the time to really research it or had access to the documents to find out.

Out of 100 civics questions for people applying for U.S. citizenship, question 45 suggests that future citizens have two options and only two options in American politics.

It is a win-win between Republicans and Democrats as the only possible answers gives exposure only to them and no other political party or option, such as participating without being obligated to associate with a party.

Question 45. "What are the two major political parties in the United States?"

Answer: Democratic and Republican.

Redistricting is a process that occurs once every ten years, where census data is utilized to redraw the boundaries of each congressional district, so as to keep the representational power of each district relatively even. The underlying rationale for redistricting is to ensure that the "one man, one vote" ethos stays meaningful.

As the protests in Ferguson, Missouri continue, the U.S. Congress recently blocked a vote on a bipartisan bill that would have restricted the transfer of military-grade weapons and vehicles to local police.

Primaries, despite all appearances, are actually necessary as vehicles of Democracy. Most readers of IVN have a general idea of what primaries are and how they function. However, I would argue that the benefits of primaries are rarely, if ever, mentioned. The reason for this is because they are old and we, as a society, have forgotten why they were necessary.