The Battleground

Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The other day I saw a commercial for the Green Party's Presidential ticket, being headed up by Dr. Jill Stein. The money quote: "What we don't need is pandering, irresponsible bullshit that passes as campaigning." This made me suspect Dr. Stein of having a sense of humor. I then subsequently heard her being interviewed by Bill Moyers on Moyers & Company, and liked what she had to say as it relates to our current political situation.

The older I get, the more I despair of our two party system. In my heart, I know it's corrupt and ineffective to the point of being moribund (unless you're a member of the 1%). But I continue to work at being an informed citizen, and exercising my franchise in the most responsible way I can, in spite of my cynicism.

Because it matters, especially here in Colorado, which is considered a battleground state by both parties. The battleground states will (as always) decide this election, and although I always vote in every election no matter what, doing so now, at this time, makes a larger difference than in previous years.

Which is why I find it agonizing that I like Dr. Scott so much. As I've said before, the only way I'd vote for the Republican ticket at this point is if I had a brain tumor - their platform scares the crap out of me. And while I don't think the Dems are all that and a bag of chips, either, at least they have some concern about letting kids go to bed hungry or people dying of treatable disease.

So I can either vote for the Green Party and deprive the Democrats of my vote, which would do nothing but help the Republicans, or I can hold my nose and vote for the Democrats, thus perpetuating the system that I abhor.

If I thought the Green Party had any hope of defeating the Republicans, I'd vote for them in a second. But they don't. They just don't. So my primary motivation for voting the way I will in November has to do with keeping the Republicans out rather than keeping the Democrats in. Is it any wonder I'm a cynic?

5 comments:

Anne C. said...

I've always been a proponent for multiple parties. It seems it would add some complexity to the political ecosystem that might lead to more nuanced governance. In the past, I've voted for minority parties, but I'm not sure what I'm doing this year. Like you, I don't like perpetuating a system that does not represent me, but when the New Republican Party started to try and regulate my personal life, they set themselves up as a serious threat to my wellbeing and the wellbeing of those I love. I miss the old Republican Party with all my heart. :(

Janiece said...

Anne, me, too. The fact that the NRP apparently doesn't care about anyone's civil liberties (or well-being) but the rich while simultaneously spending the country into the ground - well.

The Mechanicky Gal said...

My thought process exactly. Unfortunately, in our system as it is, it is not a matter of voting a party IN, as much as keeping a party OUT.
Hopefully it's an evolving process and will change.
It's just not quick enough.

mom in northern said...

Yep....I am telling you ALfred E. Newman for pres. The information on both guys is out there...Newsweek, Rolling Stone...etc. But most decisions will be based on sound bites..

Unknown said...

I hear ya. In past elections I have been so disgusted with both major parties that I have voted for an alternative candidate. In one very close election I relalized what you said about giving away my vote for the Dems. I decided then to forgo this practice, and just vote for the less odius :)