Hooray for propaganda!!

I like things that break down to an overwhelming point, i.e. nothing else matters besides "this" single issue. It makes me feel better that I don’t truly understand the depth behind the myriad other issues in this election: the economy, the war/foreign policy, health care, social security, because I can subjugate all that to the single point.

And that point is: this country needs an increasingly effective third party. We need someone to challenge the two major parties. If you have a third – and then a fourth and a fifth, etc., like other countries – then you’re really choosing YOUR candidate. You’re not choosing against – or for -- someone because of one thing you happen to believe.
You’re making informed decisions based on the majority of the issues.

Because it’s not possible that all opinions and beliefs can exist perfectly within two parties. It’s time for corporations (the debates are controlled by corporate sponsors) to open the debates and let the country hear true discourse that includes a voice of dissent. It’s time for the candidates to demand the tough questions and be concerned of how the other few candidates will respond. They will no longer be able to play to two sets of people: the minority and the majority. They can’t just talk about what they think the majority of the people want to hear because that’s how you get elected. Instead, they will begin to communicate what they truly believe and hope that’s enough. And the two parties will no longer be able to manipulate that majority/minority dynamic to their benefit. And we will be able to choose our representative that meets the majority of OUR beliefs, not a representative that is pandering to the majority.

So, as such, I’m voting for Ralph Nader. He never is afraid to call out any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. He speaks for the masses and focuses in depth on such topics – like corporate control of government and minimum wage and health care related deaths and the environment – that completely trump the lipservice these issues are paid by the current candidates.

In California, the most contentious and heavily advertised issue is Prop 8. That deals with the right for homosexuals to get married. Yep, in the good ‘ole CA, that issue has created more bumper stickers than any other issue. That would not happen with multiple candidates where the true issues would prevail. People would not just vote on a candidate’s stance on this ridiculous issue.

As far as I can tell, people don’t really vote for a candidate, but rather against a candidate. Granted, Barack is good, moreso than any candidate since I’ve been an adult. But, are people really voting FOR Barack, or against the fear of the continuation of the Bush administration?

Where is the other choice? I kinda like Barack, but he’s moved quickly back to the middle after beginning far left. McCain’s not so bad, Eh. Where is my third choice?

In my view, the only way to really validate a belief is to have chosen from many choices not just two, a 0/1, an on/off. That way, you’re more likely to choose someone who aligns with the majority of your beliefs instead of choosing the one who is against the majority of the issues that you fear, like choosing/not-choosing a liberal because of his view of Roe vs. Wade or gay marriage.

We need that third party to challenge the rote responses and lipservice. We need a third party to ask HOW someone is going to pay for that social service or economic policy. We need a third party to ask WHY they’re taking millions from Big Business and what promises they’ve made. We need someone to ask, seriously, WHAT is the plan for social security. We need someone who asks WHO these candidates are, truly. We need someone who is the underdog to the corporate candidates. Someone who is so unlikely to win, that they ask the REAL questions, like Barack before he became popular.

Ugh, being told what I want to hear is sickening, disheartening, and makes me cynical. It focuses me away from true politics and more on soundbites and consumerism. Which, perhaps, is what they want anyway.

Go third party. Let’s be like other countries and give people an actual choice based on their beliefs. Not just a choice based on “what’s worse?”!

Vote Nader. Because I know he won’t win. Because I know it doesn’t matter in our current electoral college system, at least in California. But, because I’m tired of the two choices. We need a third choice. A third party. ASAP. And I am voting FOR that belief.