None of the Above, and Why
I started out this year thinking that I might be able to actually vote FOR someone for President this year. Looks like that was wishful thinking…
John McCain had for years been one of the few Republicans to actually think for himself and not blindly follow Bush and his corporate sponsors. I had some concerns about the “hundred years” and “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” comments, but then the media likes to take statements out of context if they make good sound bites, and a dry sense of humor goes whooshing over their heads. But since securing the nomination, he is suddenly espousing continuing Bushisms like tax breaks for the rich at the expense of the middle class. He also failed to vote against the FISA Act which violates the basic liberties of all Americans by playing the “fear itself” excuse.
Barack Obama also looked promising, but went from promising a filibuster of any FISA bill that included telecom immunity to actually voting for it (see previous entry for his excuses for that flip-flop). It looks like any amount of time spent in Washington is enough to get you fully indoctrinated into the club.
The President takes an oath to uphold the Constitution. The FISA bill shows that neither Obama nor McCain can be counted on to follow through on that oath.
Which leaves us with Bob Barr. I like that he stands up for the Constitution. He actually seems to understand that every American is affected every day by loss of liberty to the increasing power of the federal bureaucracy. The Democrats and Republicans would both like you to believe that they can’t protect you from terrorists unless you make yourself totally vulnerable to them and their corporate sponsors.
I also agree with his stand against the US being the “World Police”, and that he would not repeat the gross stupidity of the invasion of Iraq.
However, he has a severe cerebral/rectal inversion on two subjects: the “Fair Tax” (brought to you by the same marketing department that brought you the “Patriot Act”) and the idea that global warming is just a fantasy dreamed up by people who want to ruin our economy (just for the hell of it, apparently).
There are in fact economic consequences to doing nothing, and costs being paid right now by people all over the world subjected to changing weather patterns.
Which leads me back to None Of The Above. Why?
Because there is no candidate who supports the interests of educated middle class Americans. In fact, the decline in our education system, the growth of fundamentalists, the growing gap between rich and poor, and the dumbing down of the press all indicate that those in power would prefer there not be an educated middle class.
Express your displeasure this year – let’s make “None of the Above” register on the election night news.
