Many people have complained that due to the protracted Democratic primary election campaign, we are failing to focus on our general election opponent, John McCain.  To some extent, this complaint misses the point: those of us supporting one candidate or the other are doing so because we think that it puts the Democratic Party in the best position to capture the White House and reverse the disastrous policies of the Bush Administration.  But to some extent, it's well-taken.  Writing diaries promoting one candidate over another or commenting on how the nomination should be decided -- and I freely admit that in the short time since I've returned to this site under a new handle, I am as guilty of this as anyone -- is easy, fun, and not directly conducive to defeating McCain.

So I am proposing a voluntary tax.