I need a break from the recall. Before was the war in Iraq, and even earlier, corporate scandal. Coming soon — actually, here now — a presidential election.

I needed to take some time to clear my head of politics and focus on the esoteric minutiae.

So I went to a party with a few armchair philosophers.

Arguing about the beauty of simplicity over complexity filled my Saturday evening. It was a foolish and meaningless discussion over beer at a potluck that turned into a argument during the walk to the bar. We ran short of libation. No punches were thrown.

Normally I am the kind of guy that praises simplicity. I live a utilitarian life — the excesses of fashion and style bore me most of the time. I enjoy the work of functionalist architects. I don’t own a car. I ride a bike. I like living a simple life. I think some other people are taking it too far though.

Life is more complex than my potluck debate opponent and some others make it out to be.

Everything will not automatically get better if there is more money in your pocket and less taken in taxes from your paycheck.

It sounds like a good plan until schools, roads, bridges and things like police and fire protection start to crumble and collapse.

Apparently Californians are too glued to Fox News and E! Entertainment Television to pick up a paper and learn these things are starting to collapse before they vote.

This guy from the party was insistent though. “If Davis and the Feds didn’t take so much out of my check, you wouldn’t have to buy me beer tonight,” he said (Names are excluded to protect the feeble minded).

“I had to buy you beer when Clinton was president,” I responded.

His retort was that he didn’t vote for any of ‘them’ and that, in addition to my life being overly defined by politics, he would never let ‘them’ run his life like they ran mine.

This anecdote illustrates the point nicely.

His life is thoroughly defined by politicians. They write laws he should follow even if he doesn’t. They tax him and use the money to pay off their biggest campaign contributors and not his bar tab.

He really should be voting for people who want to increase student financial aid instead of arguing about political games he doesn’t even participate in. He even had the gall to tell me that elections don’t decide anything. I am curious to know how his ‘appointed by the corporations’ conspiracy theory works. Is it CEOs or shareholders that get a vote?

Young people seem resigned to the fact that lousy representatives will be elected. They think that there is nothing they can do about it. They almost embrace wasting their votes for a few laughs (Gary Coleman got 13,015 votes?!).

Your vote only counts if you use it. 3.85 million people in a state of 35 million elected Arnold Schwarzenegger. What a mandate.

I’ll guarantee that the millionaires of California remembered to be at the polls on election day. They have a lot more to loose than an average person with a job and mounting bills, but no cash.

Even among those who voted, many don’t want to be bothered with a substantive discussion of issues facing California. They want lower taxes for everybody. Even those millionaires loopy with private loopholes Some say they are voting for the man. Others like the bland sound-bites. Some just like his movie star image.

In spite of any logical thought process, I can see that this illusion of change being sold in California is enticing. The empty rhetoric that passes for a plan is simply thrilling, as long as it comes from the mouth of a movie star with a cheering crowd and Dee Snider behind him.

It also helps that there is no plan. There is no issue to object to. No one can argue that the governor didn’t do what he promised because he failed to promise anything.

Nothing is going to change if we don’t try to change it.OK, my night for esoteric minutiae and no politics didn’t pan out. But I am never taking a break again. You shouldn’t either.

Should Andrew give it a rest?Respond at [email protected].