On November 4th, 2008, I will be eligible to vote in my first federal election.
On the ballot will be what seems like the scripted tale of American governance: The "maverick" war hero Republican and the smooth talking young Democrat.
Who really wins in this ballet of moderation?
I know who will lose:
People seeking effective universal healthcare.
McCain plans on tearing down any real way to assist people in getting healthcare with what is the most conservative healthcare plan I have ever heard be promoted nationally.
Obama has a plan with a lot of specifics that don't add up and when they do add up, it doesn't equal universal healthcare and sounds far more expensive than it is helpful.
People seeking marriage equality.
McCain and Obama agree - gay people should not get married.
People seeking an end to war.
McCain and Obama have both voted, whenever possible, to continue the War in Iraq. Obama was not in the Senate when it started, but he has voted to fund it every time.
McCain and Obama agree, we need more troops in Afghanistan. Not a different strategy on combating global terrorism, but more troops in Afghanistan.
People seeking education reform.
McCain and Obama agree with Bush - charter schools are a good solution.
People seeking privacy.
McCain and Obama voted to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act and for FISA.
People seeking clean energy.
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for the oxymoron of an idea of "clean coal".
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for nuclear power.
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for offshore drilling, even though Obama had clearly been against it until he made his recent switch.
Senator Obama voted FOR the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - which amounts to a $12,300,000,000 subsidy for big oil and nuclear power.
People seeking budget reform.
Both McCain and Obama have voted consistently for Bush's budgets.
People seeking electoral reform.
Both McCain and Obama have supported excluding people from the debates that do not agree with their corporate agenda.
People seeking corporate accountability
Both McCain and Obama supported the bail out. The same one that continues to allow people to do the same things that led to the current economic mess.
You get the idea: John McCain and Barack Obama win - the majority continues to lose. I will not vote for this. I cannot consciously support either major party candidate.
So what will I do? I will vote for the candidate that represents me best. This radical idea was not mine first, admittedly, as George Washington himself opposed the party system. I do not oppose the party system, I oppose the TWO party system.
So, I registered Green.
The Green Party, like many other third parties, is funded by the people (not corporations) and provides answers:
YES to Single-Payer Healthcare - accessible to all citizens.
YES to a living wage.
YES to marriage equality - no more discrimination.
YES to ending wars.
YES to education reform.
YES to privacy.
YES to clean energy - no oil or nuclear money.
YES to budget reform.
YES to electoral reform - more than two candidates!
YES to corporate accountability.
I, no longer, have to wonder what will happen to the poor family that can't afford healthcare, the working mom that just can't make enough money, the gay couple ready to tie the knot, the brother in Iraq, the children who need to learn, the conversations I have in private, the planet I love to live on, the money I spend, the people I vote for, and the unchecked corporate fat cats that have squandered our future for their own gain.
The Green Party has the answers to the questions I asked.
Maybe the Green Party doesn't answer questions in the way you support, but a different third party probably does. I URGE you to look up a party that supports what you want NOW, not tomorrow.
Yours,
Jeremy Cannon
On the ballot will be what seems like the scripted tale of American governance: The "maverick" war hero Republican and the smooth talking young Democrat.
Who really wins in this ballet of moderation?
I know who will lose:
People seeking effective universal healthcare.
McCain plans on tearing down any real way to assist people in getting healthcare with what is the most conservative healthcare plan I have ever heard be promoted nationally.
Obama has a plan with a lot of specifics that don't add up and when they do add up, it doesn't equal universal healthcare and sounds far more expensive than it is helpful.
People seeking marriage equality.
McCain and Obama agree - gay people should not get married.
People seeking an end to war.
McCain and Obama have both voted, whenever possible, to continue the War in Iraq. Obama was not in the Senate when it started, but he has voted to fund it every time.
McCain and Obama agree, we need more troops in Afghanistan. Not a different strategy on combating global terrorism, but more troops in Afghanistan.
People seeking education reform.
McCain and Obama agree with Bush - charter schools are a good solution.
People seeking privacy.
McCain and Obama voted to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act and for FISA.
People seeking clean energy.
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for the oxymoron of an idea of "clean coal".
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for nuclear power.
Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for offshore drilling, even though Obama had clearly been against it until he made his recent switch.
Senator Obama voted FOR the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - which amounts to a $12,300,000,000 subsidy for big oil and nuclear power.
People seeking budget reform.
Both McCain and Obama have voted consistently for Bush's budgets.
People seeking electoral reform.
Both McCain and Obama have supported excluding people from the debates that do not agree with their corporate agenda.
People seeking corporate accountability
Both McCain and Obama supported the bail out. The same one that continues to allow people to do the same things that led to the current economic mess.
You get the idea: John McCain and Barack Obama win - the majority continues to lose. I will not vote for this. I cannot consciously support either major party candidate.
So what will I do? I will vote for the candidate that represents me best. This radical idea was not mine first, admittedly, as George Washington himself opposed the party system. I do not oppose the party system, I oppose the TWO party system.
So, I registered Green.
The Green Party, like many other third parties, is funded by the people (not corporations) and provides answers:
YES to Single-Payer Healthcare - accessible to all citizens.
YES to a living wage.
YES to marriage equality - no more discrimination.
YES to ending wars.
YES to education reform.
YES to privacy.
YES to clean energy - no oil or nuclear money.
YES to budget reform.
YES to electoral reform - more than two candidates!
YES to corporate accountability.
I, no longer, have to wonder what will happen to the poor family that can't afford healthcare, the working mom that just can't make enough money, the gay couple ready to tie the knot, the brother in Iraq, the children who need to learn, the conversations I have in private, the planet I love to live on, the money I spend, the people I vote for, and the unchecked corporate fat cats that have squandered our future for their own gain.
The Green Party has the answers to the questions I asked.
Maybe the Green Party doesn't answer questions in the way you support, but a different third party probably does. I URGE you to look up a party that supports what you want NOW, not tomorrow.
Yours,
Jeremy Cannon
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