In a few weeks, I will be heading to Peru on vacation, partaking in the multi-activity tour I had attempted to take last year. Along with the fun and adventure I am bound to have there, another bonus of the trip is that I will miss most of our election. While democracy is the best system we've got, I simply cannot stand election campaigns. The negative advertising drives me nuts. I will be pleased to cast my vote in advance, and then whisk away and avoid most of the nastiness being hurled on every medium they can get their political hands on.

Winston Churchill said it best. "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."