There are many things that I don’t understand about the political systems of most countries. In the UK, why can’t a MP resign? In Norn Iron, what exactly is D’Hondt and who thought it would be a good idea? In France, what is the point? In Italy, why bother?

In the US there are a number of confusing things. Why does Teddy Kennedy still have a job? Why haven’t the Republicans been bitchslapped back to Tuesday and taught the meaning of the words ‘fiscal responsibility’? And why are voters supposed to register a political affiliation on their voter registration form?

I’m a simple man, y’see, and I was under the impression that the US operated one of those secret ballot things, to whit that how you vote wasn’t supposed to be public knowledge unless you chose to make it so. Why then is this possible, let alone a story?

Democrats may be blasting Sarah Palin as a doctrinaire conservative, and Republicans may be embracing her for the same reason, but her husband and oldest son are independents.

Or, more precisely, their party affiliation is listed as “undeclared” on voter registration records retrieved from the Alaska Division of Elections.

I would take this to mean that you’re registered as Republican, Democrat, Independent or Undeclared. Why would this information need to be registered by the state, out of curiosity?

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, and you know how I don’t like things that don’t make sense…