August 2004

Why You Should Not Vote For Anyone

NOTE: This is not a pro-Nader rant!

Modern politics is ugly, and I am close to giving up on the two major political parties in America. For one, I will give up my aggravation with it, and, for the other, I will give up my hope in it. They have tested my patience, and they have prepared the rope with which the people can hang them both. When the time comes, I'll be happy to tie the knot myself.

A cynic (or political psychologist) will tell you that most people do not know why they are voting for a person. The combination of image, sound-bites, and personal financial status do more to draw people to the polls than the issues themselves. In light of that, candidates campaign focuses, on one hand, on creating an image for themselves, while, on the other, creating an image for their opponent. In the end, a campaign is a never ending debate of "I know you are, but what am I?" Most people know images, not facts.

That is, if they barely watch.

If one follows the candidates intently (and by follow, I include reading more than a local paper and watching the 11pm News,) you will find that your reasons for voting have a stronger foundation.

Oh, were it only that easy!

The way I see it, the more you learn about the candidates, their friends and their campaigns, the less you'd want to vote at all. At least, that's the pickle I am in at the moment.

On a number of points, John Kerry promises to be a better President, in my opinion, than Mr. Bush. For the duration of his administration, a more liberal/progressive/democratic agenda will guide his appointments and executive orders. He'll fight with the conservative Congress (and media) more often that not, but that's par for the course.

When it comes to the most destructive practices in America today, I doubt John Kerry is capable of making the changes.

1. Campaign Finance Reform - The chances of any President, Republican or Democrat, making substantive changes to a legalized bribery system we call campaign fundraising are slim to none. Neither Kerry nor Bush have the requisite balls to reform the system. Without any changes coming from the Executive branch (not that the brain-dead public is clamoring for this, anyway) or congress, the current campaign finance system will keep us mired by destructive two-party races for at least another generation.

2. Corporate Governance - This one goes hand-in-hand with Campaign Finance Reform. The people who donate the most money benefit from having the greatest influence in Washington, and they are not about to let the faded memories of Enron, Global Crossing, or Adelphia be anything but faded. Thanks to the myth of the 'Noble Capitalist' and deregulation, each year the people of the US become more and more separated from the democratic political and economic process. John Kerry will not be able to do anything about that.

3. Tax Reform - Like many of the other terrible bills championed by the Bush administration, the Bush Tax Cuts were passed with a 'sunset' clause. The tax cuts are up for renewal conveniently before the '06 mid-term elections. If you think that the Kerry administration will be able to reform those ignorant tax-cuts in the heated climate of a mid-term election (and the push for renewal of the Patriot Act), they you are more optimistic than I. The deck is stacked in favor of the demagogues, and Kerry does not inspire confidence.

I could go on for hours. The bottom line is that John Kerry, while a better choice than George Bush, is not a choice for change. Change is what this country needs right now. Before you vote for Bush or Kerry, and in the months following the election, please consider how weak our republic is, as well as who and what is responsible for this weakness.

NOTE: Godzilla thinks Grandpa is stupid, because not voting for anybody is stupid (unless you are a Bush voter). Godzilla insists that if you'd rather not vote for anybody, use the write-in line provided and vote for "Godzilla, Washington DC".