Why I am voting for Ralph Nader for President in 2008
The simple answer is that Ralph Nader’s platform matches my beliefs more closely than any other candidates’ ( http://www.votenader.org/issues/ ).
Now the general response is to say that a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain - and a vote for McCain is a vote against those very issues I believe in – therefore, I should vote for Obama. I am still going to vote for Nader. Below are my reasons why. Each reason on its own may not be enough, but add them all together and I can’t deny that Nader is where my vote should go.
I’ll start with my problems with Obama. He always struck me as touting the idea of change without having any idea of how to achieve it. I don’t believe in his energy solution ( especially his support of ethanol ). I question if he will get us out of Iraq. I am disappointed by his FISA vote (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04fri1.html). It is getting to the point where I am seeing little distinguishing differences between Obama and McCain.
Next, I’m upset with the Democratic party as a whole. The last two years gave the democrats plenty of opportunities to stand up to the Bush administration and let them know their actions will not be tolerated. But instead of standing up, the democrats rolled over (with the exception of a few gems like Russ Feingold). They have not shown that they are the party of change like Obama would have us believe. The FISA bill, taking impeachment off the table, allowing the war to continue without timetables for withdrawal – these are just a few of the things the Democrats caved on.
I am also very upset with how the Democratic party responded to Nader’s campaign in 2004. They used dirty tricks and illegal actions (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3771) to keep Nader and others off the ballot in many states. Their actions were the very opposite of democratic and that is not something I can endorse with my vote.
I don’t want to live with voting for the lesser of two evils. In 2004 I fell for the rhetoric of the lesser of two evils theory. After placing my vote, I felt like I had sold my values, especially when Kerry didn’t even win. That truly felt like I threw away my vote. I’m not falling for it again.
Lastly, I know Nader won’t win. But I also know that I can’t expect change if we all just cave in to the lesser of two evils. We need to show that we will stick to our beliefs and won’t just roll over. Why would the democrats give up their corporate money to take on progressive issues when they know we’ll come crawling back. We need to make our politicians earn our vote by taking on our issues, not by being less evil. And I believe now is the perfect time to show the Democrats we are serious – even if it does mean McCain gets elected. I mean let’s face it, McCain isn’t that bad, especially when compared to Bush.
I can understand why people will vote for Obama. The lesser of two evils case is very powerful because it feeds on our fears. This year I am putting aside the fear. The above reasons allow me to vote for hope – to vote for Nader – with a clear conscience and my head held high because I voted for what I believe in.
Now the general response is to say that a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain - and a vote for McCain is a vote against those very issues I believe in – therefore, I should vote for Obama. I am still going to vote for Nader. Below are my reasons why. Each reason on its own may not be enough, but add them all together and I can’t deny that Nader is where my vote should go.
I’ll start with my problems with Obama. He always struck me as touting the idea of change without having any idea of how to achieve it. I don’t believe in his energy solution ( especially his support of ethanol ). I question if he will get us out of Iraq. I am disappointed by his FISA vote (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04fri1.html). It is getting to the point where I am seeing little distinguishing differences between Obama and McCain.
Next, I’m upset with the Democratic party as a whole. The last two years gave the democrats plenty of opportunities to stand up to the Bush administration and let them know their actions will not be tolerated. But instead of standing up, the democrats rolled over (with the exception of a few gems like Russ Feingold). They have not shown that they are the party of change like Obama would have us believe. The FISA bill, taking impeachment off the table, allowing the war to continue without timetables for withdrawal – these are just a few of the things the Democrats caved on.
I am also very upset with how the Democratic party responded to Nader’s campaign in 2004. They used dirty tricks and illegal actions (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3771) to keep Nader and others off the ballot in many states. Their actions were the very opposite of democratic and that is not something I can endorse with my vote.
I don’t want to live with voting for the lesser of two evils. In 2004 I fell for the rhetoric of the lesser of two evils theory. After placing my vote, I felt like I had sold my values, especially when Kerry didn’t even win. That truly felt like I threw away my vote. I’m not falling for it again.
Lastly, I know Nader won’t win. But I also know that I can’t expect change if we all just cave in to the lesser of two evils. We need to show that we will stick to our beliefs and won’t just roll over. Why would the democrats give up their corporate money to take on progressive issues when they know we’ll come crawling back. We need to make our politicians earn our vote by taking on our issues, not by being less evil. And I believe now is the perfect time to show the Democrats we are serious – even if it does mean McCain gets elected. I mean let’s face it, McCain isn’t that bad, especially when compared to Bush.
I can understand why people will vote for Obama. The lesser of two evils case is very powerful because it feeds on our fears. This year I am putting aside the fear. The above reasons allow me to vote for hope – to vote for Nader – with a clear conscience and my head held high because I voted for what I believe in.
Labels: Ralph Nader
posted by Jeff at
8:14 PM
2 Comments:
I'll put this bluntly - that's the benefit of anonymous comments - I think that making your vote on the basis of your own dignity, self-righteousness, and upset attitude is essentially throwing your vote away. Dignity is worthless. You know as well as I do that Nader isn't going to win, and he takes away votes from Obama. You either settle or live with someone with values that are polar opposites of yours. Now, you might have a good conscious, in return - but what is that worth? At the end of the day, you're the one who's going to have to live with regressive tax cuts, interventionist foreign policy, and the other hallmarks of the Republican party.
Now, I'm sure you might feel insulted by what I just said, but I hope you overlook any anger you might get and understand my point.
By the way, this comes from someone who is also most closely aligned with Nader.
By
Anonymous, at 4:04 PM
I understand your point. Here is my rebuttal:
First you fail to address the rest of my points. You pick out my disgust with the democrats and my feelings of "dignity" to attack. How about my agreeing with Nader's issues? How about the similarity to McCain? How about moving the Democrats towards my cause?
And that really brings me to my next point. In a way, I think it would be good if McCain won. The democrats need a good hard fall in order for them to wake up. That is really only the way to get their attention at this point. Like the saying goes, you can't make omelets without breaking a few eggs. Also, I don't think McCain is the devil incarnate. Will he do things I disagree with? Yes. Will it be the end of the world? No. Again, compared to Bush, he'll look like a saint.
By
Jeff, at 4:31 PM
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