I'm writing a paper on early modern English politics, and I'm so tempted to put anachronistic comparisons into the paper, which I won't--okay, I'm putting a sentence in about how Catholicism was Restoration England's version of the Red Menace and/or the Worldwide Jewish Conspiracy: a threat that scares the hell out of people even when demography and reason are against it. But I can't shake the feeling that early eighteenth-century elections feel like stories I've heard about mid-twentieth-century Chicago elections--bribery, patronage, recommendations from your landlord and your priest, and free booze.
And Michael Moore's getting into trouble for giving underwear to people who register to vote? The only thing I could see pressing charges against him on would be sex discrimination, because I think a
three-pack of men's white briefs may cost more than a three-pack of ramen noodles, depending on the
brand of ramen.
posted by Maureen at 8:28 PM
