I have met folks in my life who don't vote. I always have voted, even if I've received stipulation from others. But I still do it. I tell people, when they tell me they don't vote, I say they don't have the right to complain. They say it won't make a difference anyway. They're going to do what they want to no matter what.. and that's true to a certian extent. But this is a two-way street we're on here. I think that what folks who don't participate in voting might not realize is that the more non-voters show their complacency, the more those who are in power are going to take advantage of us, all of us. Voters' and non- voters' livelihoods and rights are at stake, every year, every four years. I asked one non-voter whom was a single mother, I said, what if there was someone in office whom would cease taxation of your wages? Or, what if there was a president whom would punish deadbeat dads more than marijuana users? Or, what if your senators in the House were working on universal healthcare? Are these simply pipe dreams? Do we dream of a life better than this one only to wake up a few minutes later, load a bowl and attempt once again to a reality that seems better than this one? Most of us probably do.
But we don't have to.
I went to the Nader convention a few days ago. I like the guy for the most part. I'd never been to see a political figurehead before. It's pretty thrilling to go. I liked, actually, I agreed with pretty much everything the man had to say about refroming the country. I know this sounds dippy-liberal, but Nader cares about humans. He does. You think Bush does? Cheney's energy task force always meets behind closed doors- a blackout of information to the American public- you and me- and this is the president's right hand man. They do not care for us any more than a serial killer cares for the body he stripped the flesh off of to make his suit.
Now back to Nader. On the one hand, I hafta give this guy some credit. At least he's not being arrogant like Micheal Moore can be. However, goddamn if his career isn't making a turn for the stale. I went to Benson Polytechnic High to support him and get him on the Oregon ballot. I knew that he wasn't part of the Green Party anymore, but I went to support him anyhow. I knew that many people thought and still think that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush (sounds like four years ago... spoiler.) But I did it anyway. I don't like John Kerry- he's bought like the rest of the neocons. Yes that's right- John Kerry is a republican. He's a capitalist. He's a millionaire. So what if he fought in Vietnam? I had a glass of water yesterday. Big fucking deal. CHANGE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH KERRY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH NADER, EITHER. As much as I like and support Nader, I'm not going to vote for him. It's not because he's not with the Greens, and it's not because he's not as liberal as Kucinich. It's because he's not the right person and this is not the right time. Ralph Nader is on a crusade for a third party system. This is the good part of what he is doing. We need to uderstand that it ain't about a two- party deal anymore. Right now I can't tell the left from the right when I look at their stocks and pocketbooks. More Americans ought to think outside the bun in terms of politics and parties, and that is what I believe is the biggest problem.
A vote for Nader probably will help the Bushes maintain power here. What to do instead? If you want to be a real Democrap, swallow your pride and vote for Kerry. This is going to take a long time for all the lumpen proletariats in America to realize that we have critical choices to make and very important thinking to do. We were given the intelligence that we have to make this reality something we oughtn't escape from, but we're not doing it enough. I know plenty of people who've never heard of Ralph. Just think of how many more people don't think there's a choice between right and left.
We have to take baby steps. We're only crawling now with Nader, but if we keep it going, we'll be walking- and you have to walk before you can run. I think eventually America will wake up and begin to rethink its capitalist supremacy. Even though I know that will be beyond any kind of nightmare I can fathom, the outcome would be so promising. It's like when someone has to go to therapy. They have to confront their demons and their terrors and their fears and drop their pride and their security blankets and be vulnerable. The day America does that, all will fall into chaos, and the wounds of the land will bleed infection out of its system, regenerating a new America without corruption and endless dark days. This is pretty much what people have to expect if they want the US to become healthy again. Capitalism is not the kind of political agenda which is open to reform in the ways we need it to be. Things like free healthcare and non-taxation of wages don't work for a capitalist nation because they don't add value to the economy. And the fat cats know this. And they don't want it to be that way. Ever. It's not in their interest.
I don't think Nader can lead the country to overcome capitalism and fascism. I definitely think he's helping, but not like he could be. If he wasn't doing the running-for-president-thing, he'd probably be making more of an impact on Americans to warrant change in the system and communities. He could be talking to people to get more involved in their local government. We could be finding out who are our senators and governors, and whom they endorse, and what their agendas are, and what they want to do for the city, or the state, or the country. Then people could know these things and then make more informed decisions about whom to vote for for judges, for sheriffs, for presidents . Instead he's taking on too big a task for himself to achieve successfully- not becasue he's older, but because he is not the right person for the job.
We have to take baby steps first.