Voting

"These may not look like huge differences [between the parties], but they translate into substantial effects on the lives of people. Anyone who says, 'I don't care if Bush [read McCain] gets elected' is basically telling the poor and working people in the country, 'I don't care if you lives are destroyed. . . . I just don't care, because from my elevated position I don't see much difference between the two candidates.' . . . Apart from it being wrong, it's a recipe for disaster if you're hoping ever to develop a popular movement and a political alternative."
- Noam Chomsky, Imperial Ambitions p. 114


I occasionally find myself apathetic towards politics. Supposedly we live in a bipartisan democracy, yet it appears that both parties represent the same interests; neither of which significantly benefit me. Both Republicans and Democrats represent business, particularly multinational corporations. The vast majority of candidates for either party are funded by big business lobbies, and so upon obtaining office, will vote accordingly. The difference as far as I can see is the extremes they represent.

Democrats as best as I can tell, are a business party which has subsumed what was once America's Populist, Labor, and Socialist movements. They represent business, but their ideology still bears resemblance of our more democratic foundations. I don't trust them, but they are the best thing we have at the moment.

Republicans on the other hand, have it in mind to destroy anything remotely resembling a democracy. They proclaim a "hands off" ideology, and proceed to quietly steal individual freedom at every turn. Palin last night preached that her party desires to cut taxes and leave more money in the pockets of taxpayers. Republicans want to leave money in taxpayer hands the same way casinos want patrons to win. The long term effects will be the same, and we will all be poorer. (We referring to the bottom 90%)

I'm not sure what to think about Obama. He sounds great, and that's what worries me. If he does manage to win this November (please God!!), I imagine he will inherit such a mess that three terms would not be sufficient to fix it. I'm skeptical how much he really plans to change things. Yet, allow me to state for the record: I don't know to what extent Obama/Biden are lying to us, but I am quite convinced that McCain/Palin have no intention of saying anything true, ever. Not in the next four, or (God forbid!!) eight years, and certainly not in the coming month.

Therefore, I stand by the only reliable piece of political advice I have ever heard: "All responsible Americans should vote against Republicans, and, where possible, Democrats too."

Only, for the love of God and the few holy things left in the world, lets achieve the former first!!



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