Helen wrote: <I don't think there is, but one thing that makes me think there is some pretense of elections is that Blake's first work was with the Freedom Party. Doesn't the word 'party' politically imply that there is room political participation among 'the people' and some form, however rigged, of election?>

Not necessarily. Bran Foster implies that the Freedom Party was one of many 'activist groups', and that they worked pretty much in secret dissidence (they were betrayed and Blake captured).

The name could be a deliberate archaic echo, born of Blake's interest in and knowledge of history; a self-conscious reference to the term used when there *were* open and free political associations.

_________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp