Voting

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Are you eligible to vote in November? Are you going to? Who are you voting for? Would you ever vote for a third-party candidate?

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

Answers

I'm not old enough to vote and I don't know politics too well, but my dad keeps telling everyone he's voting Communist. I rather hope he's kidding...

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

I'm about 2 years off from voting here, but I come from this highly political family, so I'm up on politics. I'd definatly consider voting for a third party candidate, and I agree they should get more coverage. If I were voting, it would be either for Ralph Nadar or Al Gore - I'm about the most anti-Bush person there is.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

probably bush. i've never even HEARD of the third party - can someone enlighten me? maybe i'll change my vote....

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

I wasn't old enough in 96 to vote so this is my first big election. I'm not voting 3rd party because A.) I don't really agree with any of their issues B.) I know a 3rd party candidate isn't going to win anyway. I wouldn't vote 3rd Party unless I believed in the candidate and I really felt like the party had a good shot at the Oval Office.

I lived in Texas for a few years and Bush doesn't have a record to be proud of. Our country under his leadership would bring us back to the horrible horrible 80s. His father put us in a recession and Bush Jr. is just a younger version of his father. There are so many scary things about Bush it's not even funny. Anyone who is voting for him is either A.) rich white upper class or B.) ill informed. My mom, who is a registered Republican, even says that he's "all style, no substance" and she's right. Here's something to consider:

--------------------------------- The state of Texas, under the leadership of Governor George W. Bush, is ranked:

50th in spending for teachers' salaries 49th in spending on the environment 48th in per-capita funding for public health 47th in delivery of social services 42nd in child-support collections 41st in per-capita spending on public education

And he goes about ranting and raving about what a wonderful school system the State of Texas has had under his leadership...

And ...

5th in percentage of population living in poverty 1st in air and water pollution (you have to have a Haz-Mat suit to go outside in Houston...joke.) 1st in percentage of poor working parents without insurance 1st in percentage of children without health insurance 1st in executions (average 1 every 2 weeks for Bush's 5 years as Governor) Just think of what he could do for the country if he were president!

IN ADDITION:

The Bush family has enormous corporate holdings in Keefe Coffee and Supply, Co. which is the largest supplier of food and sundries to prisons and jails across the United States. Therefore, George W. Bush will PERSONALLY PROFIT from passing tougher laws to "cut down on crime" and locking more and more people away for longer periods of time.

Fact: The crime rate in the United states today is the LOWEST EVER since 1920. Media sensationalizes crime and maybe some of today's media moguls have financial interest in prisons, too.

Fact: 50 to 70 percent of U.S. and Canadian prisoners suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect. This is brain damaged suffered by babies from their mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. If George Bush was truly interested in lowering crime, he'd be passionately campaigning against pre-natal drinking - but if he did that, he'd just lose money.

Fact: After George Bush Sr.'s regime, we had a recession. ---------------------------------

Gore doesn't really do a whole lot for me but I honestly believe he wants to do something good for America. You can't deny that Bill Clinton has done great things for the US, we're in a terrific economic boom, unemployment is down, as is crime. Life is good for everyone I know. There's a lot of shitty things still going on and there's things that need changing, but that will take time and a serious effort. Gore is a little too environment-happy for me, but I think he'll be a good President, call it Clinton part 2, minus the blow jobs. I care about social programs, maybe other people don't, but I'm not going to ignore the poverty and bullshit that goes on here just because I'm in a higher tax bracket than most people I know.

I think term limits are a good idea and lobbyists should get the hell out of Washington. No one votes for the greater good of the citizens anymore, they vote to please the people that are stuffing their pockets with money, I can see why people are so apathetic about voting.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


I'm not old enough, nor do I care enough about our country to vote, but my best friend comes from a highly political (not to mention Republican) family, and so the politics (in general) is the topic of most of our conversations. She says that Reagan is her hero, and she's read almost every biography on him, done a million reports on himm for school and such. They are even part of the Reagan Club, and the other day, they got a fake plastic rose in the mail to celebrate Mrs. Reagan's birthday.

I find it really funny that someone can be so into the government like that. She even cries when she thinks about how great Reagan was. I think it's pathetic, but I'm glad someone has twice as much pride in our country as I do.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000



i went to the dmv today and got my voter registration. i've been eligible to vote since october 28th of last year but didn't becuase i spend 9 months out of the year in a different state.

anywya. i would vote for a third party candidate if i felt that that party was the one that represented my views the best. the point is not to vote someone in who will win, but to get your voice heard, so so to speak. i will probably vote for gore; he seems to be the lesser of two evils at the moment. i would never vote Libertarian, though. i believe in a big government.

hmm. for the person who asked what a third party was: there are the two big parties -- republican and democrat. a third party is a much smaller party. the two party system sucks. we need a wider set of views. we also need to get rid of this electoral college.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

I consider myself a Democrat, but I'd vote R if I really liked a candidate. I'm definitely voting for Gore. The only reason people say they won't vote for him is, besides the major issues like abortion, etc., because he's "boring." What the fuck do they want, another Clinton? Clinton has been a VERY good president, but everyone hates him because of his "private life." So, wouldn't a "boring" president be the solution everyone wants? Plus, Gore's all for environment and he seems very open to every issue. While the other candidates, Keyes and Bush and such, were talking about religion, and they all said we needed "Christian morals," Gore said that he doesn't just want to stand for the Christians, but he wants our country to be about Jewish and atheists. So I'm sold.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

I think Bush is EVIL. Evil evil evil (gee, Laurie, do you think he's evil?). There's a very interesting book about Bush out now by the wonderful Molly Ivins. It's called "Shrub." Heh. Anyone considering voting for Bush should read it. Ivins tries to be impartial when she describes Bush's time as governor, but he did so much lousy stuff (see Diandra's post above) that it becomes impossible to say anything nice about him after a while.

That being said, I'm voting for Gore in November. He's a hell of a lot smarter than Bush (there's a whole page of stupid Bush quotes... ah, jeez, I'll never be able to find it right now), and even though he hasn't got the most interesting personality in the world, I think he'll do a good job as President. He seems like he'll stick to the issues rather than try to do things for his own personal gain.

I hope Gore can pick up a few more votes with the addition of Lieberman, since he's a conservative Democrat and all. If not, we're doomed to have Bush for four years (I say "four" because I know he'll never get elected to a second term. At least he'd better not). What I don't understand is why so many lower-class Americans support Bush, when the Repuplican party is notorious for pushing the poor aside to give tax cuts to the rich! Argh!

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


i'm voting for ralph nader. voting for a third party isn't throwing your vote away, because from my understanding, if a party gets a certain percentage of the vote, they can get more funding. etc.

why go with the lesser of two evils? out of gore and bush, i prefer gore, but i prefer nader over both.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


Katie? Voting Libertarian? That's interesting. Aren't you against the death penalty? David Browne sure isn't.

I'm definately voting third party. Bush and Gore just don't cut it. Normally I vote democrat, but there's no way in hell I'm voting for Gore. He's too much like Clinton :) I'm voting for Ralph Nader who represents the Green Party. Go Nader, go!

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000



Yes. Yes. Gore or Nader. Yes.

None of the third parties (why do we call them that, when there are quite a number of them? I guess no one is willing to be the *fourth* or the *fifth* party...) really get me all tingly feeling or anything. Not that Gore does, but I think he'd do an ok job. Bush is just riding papa's coattails, but I'm afraid he might win, which gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. But the people who really scare me are folks like Buchanan. EWWWW...

Oh - and Katie - it's ok. My boyfriend, whom I love dearly (and have sex with regularly) is voting for Bush. But there's hope. He actually conceded that he might consider voting for a non-republican the other day, and when I met him three years ago he was much much more conservative. Of course, he's a lot younger than your dad.

(I considered the no sex tactic, but you know...)

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


In one word, Gore.

As for your dad being a Republican. I just found out that my oldest brother is now a Republican. First he marries one and then he becomes one. Oh the horror. One thing I know is that if my grandpa ever finds out, he'll never let it rest.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


I'm with the libertarians on social issues, but economically, they're fucked up. I really don't mind paying taxes. Sure, paying taxes infringes on my personal freedom, but you have to sacrifice some in order to live in society. Under libertarianism we wouldn't have public schools or fire departments or all that neat stuff.

I'll probably vote Gore, but only if I can't find any other third party candidates who combine democratic economics with libertarian personal freedom.

-dan

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


Oh boy oh boy oh boy......what a great forum topic!

I am a political science major (and theatre minor, just in case you're curious), and I love the U.S. Despite all that is bad with it, am so patriotic it makes my friends and family sick. I desperately want to be in the military and go to war and fight and die for my country to protect it and its citizens from any forces that would take away our freedom and our version of democracy. I cannot even convey how much I love the U.S. I think about it every day, and I just bought a 20-foot American flag, and I can't wait until it arrives in the mail.

So, after saying that, I am obviously voting. I just turned 19, and this is the first election I can vote in. I am SOOOOOOO excited. People who don't vote are people that I hate. I realise that it is "their choice" of whether or not they want to vote, but I can not stand the thought of not wanting to have a voice in the future of the country. "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote." As much as I *hate* Bush and would rather die than see him elected President of the United States, I would rather see someone vote for him than not vote at all. That's how important it is to me.

On Bush: Good lord, what an idiot. He is politically stupid, has a sketchy past, questionable investments, and alliances with some of the most right-winged evil I can think of (think NRA, Bob Jones University...etc.). He can't handle being President, and if elected, will just ruin everything, particularily the Supreme Court, to which he will almost definitely appoint strictly pro-life justices (you can be pro-life and pro-choice at the same time, pro-life is not exclusive.). The horror! Bush would not get my vote in a million, billion years.

On Gore: A pansy. Good ideas, but lacking the drive, motivation, and humanity to complete what he envisions. His stance on the environment? All talk (and writing...referring to his book). His record does not show him walking the walk, so to speak. Lieberman seems to me to be awfully sympathetic on a *lot* of issues with the Republicans....almost like he's a Republican in Democratic clothing. Questionable. If there were no more choices, Gore would get my vote over Bush, but luckily, there are a ton of other choices.

On Buchanan: Right-wing. Hot damn. I cannot BELIEVE that he chose an elderly black woman for a running mate. It makes me wonder if he's possessed. I mean, yeah, it's a year of firsts, what with Lieberman being the first Jewish VP nominee, but *Buchanan*??? Couldn't believe it. He's a right-wing religious crispy who doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell; he doesn't even have the full support of his own party! And what was that party again? Republican? Used to be...now it's Reform.

On Hagelin: The other half of the Reform Party is sided with him (the half that supports Perot's ideals). If he doesn't get the nomination, he will run with the Natural Law party. He used to teach at the Maharishi University (named after the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, of the Beatles' meditation fame). He seems like a bit of a fruitloop. IMHO, of course.

On Browne: Eh. I support government, what can I say?

On others: Schmeh. I skimmed the rest...the Nazis, the Communists, etc., etc.

On Nader: Hot damn, oh yeah! Nader is getting my vote, and in a big way. I agree with just about every word that comes out of his mouth, and since I am so fascinated with him (he's one of my personal heroes), I examine every stance over-critically, to make sure that I am not just deifying him, accepting everything he says without thinking. I agree with the Green platform and all the planks (http://www.greenparty.org), and all of Nader's stances (http://www.votenader.com), as well as his running mate, Winona LaDuke, who is one kickass woman. I went to a Nader rally in Minneapolis, and it was one of the most inspiring things I have ever attended. I am SO excited for Nader to run...last poll I checked, he was at 8% nationally. If he gets into the debates in October (which he SHOULD), I wouldn't be surprised if he came up from behind and actually won, or at least gave them a run for their money. Never underestimate the underdog, especially when the underdog has a message.

Voting for a third party candidate is NOT throwing away a vote. If it is someone that you agree with, something that you support, good lord, go for it! I am sick of compromising my ideals by remaining a Democrat, and I have finally found my party. I'm so excited, I can't stand it.

I apologise for this intensely long post, I just have a lot to say on the subject. Everyone, vote! Vote! Oh, the privilege!

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


I'm not old enough to vote. I'm missing it by about 6 months which really pisses me off. But I LOVE politics and If I could vote, I'd be voting for Gore. Sorry, But in a way, I agree that voting for a 3rd-party candidate is throwing your vote away, not that there hasn't been some decent people in the green but In my opinion I think there's generally republiKLANs and democrats and then the TONS and TONS of people that don't vote. I think the green party relates to the people who don't vote. If the HUGE majority of people that don't vote would get off their asses and vote, then maybe a 3rd party candidate could win. No, Scratch that.. Then MOst likely a 3rd party candidate would win. But the majority of people (the average working people of the world) don't really care about politics and have no interest in voting and their apathy is really hurting a lot of people. But for me, This year, I'd have to say I support Al Gore cuz I think he's an amazing man. (and the only hope we have in saving us from the evil, evil, EVIL lying, cocaine snorting puppet that is Baby Bush).

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000


Ok, I just went and check out Nader's site. I was reading it thinking 'ok, he seems pretty decent' and I'll admit I agree with him on a lot of things BUT then I noticed what seperates him from Gore.. All over his site I see everything he stands for.. and threre's nothing wrong with voting for who you agree with BUT NOT ONCE did I see anything on his site about what he planned to do about it! Not once. So.. you think minimum wage is too low?? Big deal! That means NOTHING if you're not gonna actively work to get it raised. See my point? Nader may be an alright guy... but he lacks the passion that Al Gore has. And to the people who say Al Gore is boring and lacks passion; Well, whatever, I was inspired the day I saw him give a speech. (Remarkably back then I didn't even know who he was) And I don't see how it's possible to be inspired by boring people so maybe you should take a second look.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2000

I wasn't old enough in 96 to vote so this is my first big election. I'm not voting 3rd party because A.) I don't really agree with any of their issues B.) I know a 3rd party candidate isn't going to win anyway. I wouldn't vote 3rd Party unless I believed in the candidate and I really felt like the party had a good shot at the Oval Office.

Arghghghghghghghghg! This is exactly the kind of attitude I was talking about. If you don't agree with their issues, that's fine! But not voting for someone just because they have a smaller chance of winning? What's that about?

Katie? Voting Libertarian? That's interesting. Aren't you against the death penalty? David Browne sure isn't.

A) It's Harry Browne, B) I said that I did not agree with Harry Browne on every issue, and C) I am not a one-issue voter, so just because a candidate is in favor of the death penalty and I'm not does not mean that I automatically will not vote for them.

I'm with the libertarians on social issues, but economically, they're fucked up.

Yeah, I kind of agree. I'm Libertarian when it comes to social issues, no question about it, but probably Democratic when it comes to economic issues.

I'm still actually undecided. There's a small (read: small) chance I could still go Gore, and the more I read about Nader, the more I like him. So who knows.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


I don't want to sound all bitchy or anything, but Heather, I think it is you who needs to take a second look. Nader's site has tons of information about what he plans to do about America's problems. Seriously. Take a look at it again. He's an amazing man.

As for Al Gore, I believe everything Bree [up above] had to say. He has some good ideas but it's mainly all talk. He's not really motivated to do anything about what he invisions. Why do most democrats want that? Not I.

Lastly, voting third party is definately not throwing your vote away. Like Bree said, if you support a candidate's ideas and interests and whatnot, vote for him/her. Don't vote between the two 'major' political parties just because it's what a large percentage of America is doing.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


Harry Browne.

That's what I meant. He's a Joke. He's not as bad as bush, but geez. He's anti-abortion. He's for the death penalty [which isn't so bad]. He's against the War on Drugs, He's anti-gun laws and he's pretty much anti-public schools. That's pretty much all I know about him. Anyway, NADER FOR PRESIDENT! :)

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


Harry Browne is personally against abortion, but he says that the government should have no say in it. In other words, it's your choice.

From what I've read, he's against capital punishment, not for it.

Nader is also against the War on Drugs, is he not?

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


As to Bree saying he'd vote for Gore if there wasn't any other choice than Bush.. and then saying but there is (more choices)... Then how come Nader is't even on the ballots in all states? He's not on the WV ballot. And I went back to votenader.org and scanned around on his issues page and maybe I'm blind (seriously, not being sarcastic cuz I probably am just missing it) but I seen him stating his beliefs and not what he was gonna do. So, I do believe you Camile(sp?) but help me out here, Send me a url or something where he talks about what he's gonna do to change things?

I doubt it's gonna change me cuz I still strongly support Gore but It'd be cool to know what he plans to do..

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


The war on drugs is stupid.

-dan

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


LOL, Katie! Well, at least your dad's reasons are probably better than mine -- my dad knows nothing about Bush except that he's from Texas, which supports the death penalty. That's his whole reason for voting for him. My dad is one of those people who firmly believes in "one strike and you're out". I'm surprised he's not moving the family down to TX anytime soon...

As for myself, I don't know who I'm voting for yet.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


Dan: I agree.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000

I hate Bush with an undying passion and i'd rather brush my teeth with barbed wire than vote for him. That being said, if i was OLD enough to vote in this election, I would vote for Gore. Why? Well I am a liberal. Actually, I wrote a poltical rant on my site once and got emails from people telling me I was actually a libertarian. However if I was elligible to vote, it would only be smart to vote for Gore. Why? Well with Nader and Browne, each vote they receive from people takes away votes from Gore, and since neither of those men will win, the votes are basically helping Dubbya get elected while taking away some of the core liberal votes Gore will need to win. I think it's almost inevitable that Bush is going to win this election. And that is truly sad.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000

Meghan,

"However if I was elligible to vote, it would only be smart to vote for Gore. Why? Well with Nader and Browne, each vote they receive from people takes away votes from Gore, and since neither of those men will win, the votes are basically helping Dubbya get elected while taking away some of the core liberal votes Gore will need to win. I think it's almost inevitable that Bush is going to win this election. And that is truly sad."

Not necessarily, if people like Michael Moore get their way. He's got this letter to the Internet floating around in e-mail, which actually makes some good points. For example, do you know who the biggest political party is in America?

Hint: It's not the Democrats.

Hint: It's not the Republicans.

Answer: It's the 100 million eligible voters... who don't vote. Ever. Most people who don't vote have a pretty fair reason not to vote: the candidates are always assholes. Clinton. Dole. Bush. Dukakis. Mondale. Reagan. I wouldn't want to be stuck in the middle seat of an airplane next to any of these bozos (and I know something about being stuck in the middle seat of an airplane). Now, though, there's a little something for everyone. Right-leaning Republicans have Bush. People who are so far right they walk around with their left eye closed have Buchanan. New Age nutsos have Hagelin. People like me who hate the government have Browne. Left-leaning liberals have Gore, and people who believe that corporate America is of the devil have Nader.

Finally, FINALLY, we have a system starting to approach what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they built this shithouse. A government approaching what they have in Germany, where there are like seven parties with membership in the legislature and only by forming issue-based alliances can anything get done, which keeps dumb shit - like 80% of the laws passed in this country - from getting passed.

I, for one, would love to see a sizable Libertarian or Green contingent passed into Congress. They would be the wedge that no law could pass without their support. As little as 10% of the Congress would be needed, if the Dems and Reps each has 45% of the rest.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


Here's the e-mail he was talking about, just in case you were curious.


And, in case some of the readers do not know who Michael Moore is, he produced, among other movies, "Roger and Me" in 1989 as well as a documentary on Nike sweatshop activities around the world.

A Letter from Michael Moore to the Non-Voters of America

Dear friends,

DISCLAIMER: If you are planning to vote for Al Gore in November, good for you. Don't let what I'm about to say change your mind because I've been told by all the experts that if you do change your mind based on what I'm about to say, George W. Bush might win the election and I certainly couldn't live with myself if that connoisseur of pharmaceuticals (the kind you snort up your nose or the kind you inject on death row) won, in part, because of a letter I spit out over the Internet.

So let's review -- you like Gore, you vote for Gore. He's a decent guy. I met him last year at some benefit, he came up to me, big hug -- whoa, this veep is no stiff, I thought -- and thanked me for this and that. He even quoted lines from "The Awful Truth" - whoa, scary, I thought, what's he doing watching cable channels above 40 on the box...not much to do on this veep gig, eh?

I told him I admired what he did when he came home to America as a Vietnam Vet and spoke out against the war. That took a lot of courage, I said (his dad lost his Senate seat for being an early opponent of the war).

So, if Al Gore is your man, go for it. In fact, I insist on it, even if you are just throwing your vote away.

What I am about to say, though, is not intended for any Al Gore (or George W.) voters. If you are one, please click off now.

To Whom It May Concern:

I address this letter to the largest political party in the United States - the 55% of you in the voting public who are so disillusioned with politics and politicians, so sick and tired of all the broken promises, so disgusted with all the b.s. that you have absolutely no intention of voting in November.

You know who you are.

AND YOU ARE THE MAJORITY!

You rule. You are the Non-Voters, all 100 million of you!

Until now, you have been the subject of scorn and ridicule. You've been called apathetic, lazy, ignorant. Your actions have been viewed as unAmerican (I mean, what kind of citizen in the World's Greatest Democracy would not exercise his or her most important and cherished right - the right to freely choose your leader!).

Well, may I be the first to tell you that, not only are you NOT stupid and apathetic, I believe you are smarter than all the rest of us combined. YOU figured it out. YOU uncovered the scam. And YOU had the guts to no longer participate in a lie. Way to go! In 1996, you helped set the all-time American record for lowest turnout ever at a presidential election.

The reason you, the majority, no longer vote in America is because you, the majority, realize there is no real choice on the ballot. The "two" parties both do the bidding of the wealthy and agree with each other on 90% of the issues. They take 90% of their money from people who make over a hundred-grand a year, and then enact over 90% of the laws those contributors want passed.

On the ballot this November, you already know there is no contest. The independent Cook Political Report in D.C. last week announced that, out of 435 House seats up for election in November, there are only 47 seats wher there is a "true race" between opponents - and, of those, only 14 seats have a race that is even "close" between the two candidates. 14 out of 435!

"Ninety-seven to ninety-nine percent of incumbents running for re-election will be returned to Congress in November," according to the Cook Report.

The Non-Voters already understand this. And they are not going to waste one iota of their day on November 7 driving to some smelly elementary school gymnasium to participate in a Soviet-style election with no friggin' choice on the ballot.

So, to you brave voter-resisters, I say congratulations on your act of civic disobedience! I joined you this primary season and refused to go along with this charade of "choice." Nearly 80% of those of us of voting age - over 160 million Americans - staged a sit-in on our living room couches during this year's primaries. THAT is the great untold story of this election year. How much longer will the punditocracy be able to get away with dismissing this massive no-show as "a sign Americans are content with the booming economy?"

Now that we have made our presence known (you all don't mind me speaking for us, do you? Good. In fact, I'll just assume the currently-vacant mantle of this majority party and serve as your leader until you say otherwise...), it is time to find a way that says, loudly and clearly, just how mad as hell we are and how we are not going to take it anymore. We need to find a way where our vote screams "None of the Above!" A chance to act, like that Chinese guy in Tieneman Square, standing in front of a moving tank and stopping it in its path.

In November, we should find a way to follow in the footsteps of those intelligent Minnesotans who, even thought they could care less about professional wrestling (and even less, I'm sure, for Jesse "The Body"), proved to the world that they not only have a sense of humor, but they know how to stick it to the whole bloody system. Think of just how high their level of anger must have been against the One-Party-With-Two-Heads monopoly! I mean, state government is no joke - somebody's gotta build the roads, run the schools, catch the criminals. You don't want to turn the asylum over to the chief lunatic but, damn it, that's what the people of Minnesota did - just to send a message! Wow. That took some guts.

So, for those of you who weren't going to vote anyway, well...what if you actually did? What if you drove down to that stinky gym where the little shell game behind the pretend curtains is taking place ("Pay no attention to the voters behind the curtains!"), walk in, sign in, take the ballot they hand you, and toss yourselves inside the booth like a political molotov cocktail.

Boom!

"You wanna tell me there's a choice here between two guys who both support NAFTA, WTO, the death penalty, the Cuban embargo, increased Pentagon spending, sleazy HMOs, greedy hospital chains, 250 million guns in our homes, more bombing of Iraq, the rich getting richer and the rest of us declaring bankruptcy?"

Boom!

Not me.

Boom!

I'm voting for Ralph Nader.

KAAAABOOM!

Friends, we are losing our democratic control over our country. We may have already lost it. I hope not. But in the last 20 years of the Reagan administration, Corporate America has merged and morphed itself to such an extent that just a handful of companies now call all the shots. They own Congress. They own us. In order to work for them, we have to take urine tests and lie detectors and wear bar codes on chains around our necks. In order to keep our jobs we have had to give up decent health care, the 8-hour day (and time with our kids), the security that we'll even have a job next year, and any unwillingness we may have to compete with a 14-year old Indonesian girl who gets a dollar a day.

And how frightening (and great) is it that the last place we can freely try to inform and communicate with each other is on this very Web? Six companies run by six men control the majority of the news we now get from newspapers, television, radio and the Internet. One out of every two books is bought at a bookstore owned by one of only two companies. Is it safe in a "free society" to have the sources of our information and mass communication in the hands of just a few wealthy men who have a VESTED interest in keeping us as stupid as possible - or at least in keeping us thinking like them so that we vote for THEIR candidates?

I fear the cement on this new oligarchy of power is quickly drying, and when it is finished hardening, we are finished. The democracy, the one that's supposed to be of, by, and for the people, will cease to exist.

We must not let this happen, no matter how cynical and disgusted we've become at the whole electoral process.

Ralph Nader, to me, represents a chance for us to at least temporarily stop the cement from drying. We need him in there kicking things up, stirring the pot and forcing a real debate about the issues. Whether it's Ralph as Candidate or Ralph as President, he may represent our last hope to get our country back from the clutches of the powerful few.

I am not writing these words lightly. I am hoping to sound a siren and rally the majority who, for good reason, have given up - but might just have it in them to find the will for one last fight against the bastards.

Can Ralph win? Well, stranger things have happened in the past decade. C'mon, think about it, not a single one of us ever thought we'd see the Berlin Wall come down or Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. After those two things happened, I joined a new school of thought that said ANYTHING was possible. Jesse Ventura started with 3% in the polls and won. Ross Perot in '92 started with 6% and, after proving to everyone that he was certifiably insane, still got nearly 20% of the vote.

Ralph already has between 7% and 10% in the polls - before he's done any serious campaigning. He's gone from 3% to 8% in my home state of Michigan. These are amazing numbers and the pundits and lobbyists and Republicrats are running scared. Hey, you like to watch scared Republicrats running?

Tell a pollster you're voting for Ralph.

Now, look, before you all send me a lot of mail about how weird Ralph is cause he doesn't own a car or is a "sell-out" 'cause he's got a few million dollars, let me say this: I used to work out of his office, and Ralph is definitely one of a kind. In a future letter I will write of those experiences but, for now, let's just agree that Ralph is at least half as crazy as Jesse Ventura - and about a hundred times as smart. I'd say he's also saved about a million or so lives, thanks to the consumer and environmental legislation he has devoted his life to.

And between Gore, Bush, and himself, he's the only person running who would guarantee universal health care for all, the only candidate who would raise the minimum wage to a decent level, the only one who would get up each morning asking himself the question, "What can I do today to serve all the people of this country?"

The list goes on and on. You can read more about what Ralph stands for by going to his website (http://www.votenader.org). You'll agree, I'm sure, there's lots of common sense there, regardless of what political stripe you are.

But remember. If you are even THINKING of voting for Al Gore, vote for Al Gore. Ralph Nader does not need a single Gore vote. There are a hundred million of us out there who are uncommitted and currently not voting. Right now, Gore and Bush are each hoping to win by getting only 40 million votes.

If you are in the Non-Voting majority and want to let 'em all have it, if you want to get our country back in our hands...well, if even half of you show up and vote November 7 then you won't be held responsible for Bush winning the White House.

In fact, you won't be held responsible for putting Gore in the White House, either.

Rather, you will have made history by putting a true American hero at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

And you will have given every company, every boss who's done ya wrong, the worst nightmare of their lives.

November 7. Payback Time.

The revenge of the Non-Voters!

So sayeth their unappointed leader, yours truly, Michael Moore mmflint@aol.com http://www.theawfultruth.com http://www.michaelmoore.com

PS. Come to think of it, Democrats should be on their knees thanking Ralph for running. Rather than taking votes from Gore, Ralph's going to be the one responsible for turning the House back over to the Democrats.

When millions of these Non-Voters enter that booth to vote for Ralph, and they come across their local race for Congress, they will find no Green Party candidate in most of the 435 Congressional districts. So who do you think Ralph's army of Non-Voters will plunk down for Congress? The Republican? I don't think so.

The Democrats are only six seats short of regaining control of the House. Ralph Nader will be the reason the Democrats get the House back for the first time since Newt's Contract on America in 1994.

Democrats should send their checks to:

Nader 2000, P.O. Box 18002, Washington, DC 20035.

(Or, better yet, let's try to elect enough Greens to Congress -- a dozen or so -- and they'll hold the deciding votes because neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will have the majority. It'll be a friggin' Knesset!)

PPS. If you're still worried this letter might convince a weak-kneed Gore voter to flip over to Nader - and thus lead to President George W. stacking the Supreme Court to make abortion illegal, well, it's all a bunch of hooey. Please read my latest grassroots.com column entitled, "I Ain't Fallin for That One Again" at: http://www.michaelmoore.com/aint.html

PLEASE PASS THIS LETTER ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRINT ANYWHERE. DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!



-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


"As President I would have vetoed both the "Woman's Right to Choose" bill and the partial-birth abortion bill -- no matter what my personal feelings about either of them." -Harry Browne on abortion [ http://www.harrybrown2000.org ]

Michael Moore? Right fuckin' on. I must say, I enjoyed that e-mail.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


I'm voting for Gore because he's the only democrat running for office, right? I refuse to vote anything else but democrat.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000

I love Michael Moore. If you haven't seen "Roger and Me" about the GM plants in Flint Michigan shutting down, or "The Big One", about Nike, and other large corporations moving their plants overseas, you should. They are fantastic.

I did a little happy dance for myself when I turned 18, and was able to vote. I have voted religiously in every election since that time. I'm registered to vote in California, so I have to vote by absentee ballot. The fact that there are so many people who don't vote is very frustrating to me. It's my opinion that if you don't vote, then you have no right to complain when you don't agree with the policies that are passed. By not voting, you give up your right to whine about the deplorable state of our country.

That being said, I will probably vote for Gore. I am democrat with no particular party ties, and would have happily votes Republican had Elizabeth Dole or Colin Powell run for president. But, since the Republican party decided to put "W" up as their candidate of choice, my vote will definitely go elsewhere. I couldn't believe it when he chose Cheney as his running mate. Yes, Dick Cheney has actualy governing experience which Bush lacks, but he's so conservative! I think Bush did a good job alienating a lot of the more moderate Republicans.

I don't think that voting for a third party is throwing away your vote. If Perot, a third party candidate hadn't taken himself out of the running, and then put himself back in again later, he might have won the election. And I think that third parties should be allowed to participate in the debates. It's only fair.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


I think Bill Maher should be President. heh.

This whole "pro 3rd party" thing is nice and all, but all I have to say is that if Dubbya becomes President (which at this point, unfortunately seems most likely), our country is going straight to hell. He makes me so angry, I don't even know where to begin.

http://www.psycho-jello.com/meg

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


I'm not eligible to vote but as a follower of politics I'm glad because both Gore & Bush aren't exactly fit for the task. Personally I'm about ready to vote for whoever's writing The West Wing, because I appreciate his views on politics. ::sighs while watching the world crumble to pieces::

I was in Philly when the Republicans cometh though. Remind me never to vote republican...

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2000


fuck all those candidates. vote for this man. he's brilliant. simply brilliant.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2000

I am voting third party, and I was just so amazed that I came across this page today and found another Harry Browne/Libertarian supporter!! :) Now I know I'm not the only one! :)

So yes, I am voting Libertarian for this election, and many elections in the future. I can't stand Bush, and Gore is not much better -- so instead of making a choice between the lesser of two evils, I am voting Libertarian. It will be a disgrace to this country when either Bush or Gore becomes president. ::sigh::

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2000


Here's an article about Ralph Nader's campaign manager and his strategy for reaching people who normally do not vote.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Bill Maher? GIVE ME A BREAK!

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2000

Bill Maher is a retard.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

Alas, i am too young to be part of the political process. But if i was old enough, i would DEFINITELY vote, for some third-party candidate. I'm not quite sure who's running, but i consider myself a Libertarian (and one of these days, i'll be old enough to register/vote as one).

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

Bill Maher is a close-minded (is that a word?) fool!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

I'm voting for the ultimate third party candidate--David McReynolds. He's the Socialist candidate, and won't be on the ballot in a lot of states, but I agree with almost everything in his platform.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000

The old saying: "If you were not a little liberal when you were young, you have no heart. If you are not a little conservative when you are older, you have no money," never seemed to apply more than to the posters on this board. I bet most of you have never even had a full-time job, much less the ability to understand complex social or economic issues.

Most of your hate rants against Bush are not well founded, either. He is a moderate social and conservative politician that is probably not as fiscally conservative as what I, as a Libertarian, consider as morally right.

And to those of you who categorically state that you like big government, have you actually ever considered why this country is so great? What makes the U.S. the most advanced, free society that has ever been? I guaranty you the reasons are contrary to your flawed opinions. It had nothing to do with a big government, and everything to do with freedom and personal property rights.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2000


Libertarians are just Republicans who smoke weed.

(just thought I'd add that in to discredit the point of view of the last retard poster. not that it isn't pretty much true.)

-dan

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000


A British view of how a Bush victory might teach the Democrats a lesson and why Nader is the main threat to Gore.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

The British can go suck a dick.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Just wondering if Camille actually read that article by the British?

Well, I'm Canadian, so I don't really know what to say about who I'd vote for because my vote wouldn't matter anyway! Suffice it to say that Bush just scares me.

Besides, at the moment Canada is preoccupied with the recent event of our Prime Minister getting hit in the face with a cream pie in P.E.I. (And I'm not kidding for those of you who think this is a joke.)

I do have to say though, that third party voting doesn't seem like a waste of a vote to me. I guess up here we have all sort of what you guys call "third parties". We even had a party named CRAP (Canadian Reform Alliance Party) for awhile (Until they realized that hey, maybe that's not a good anagram (is that the right word even?).

Besides, if you don't vote, since there are so many non voters, you are more responsible for who got into government than those who voted are. Because contrary to popular belief, every vote *does* count. So, if you didn't vote, and someone you hates gets into office, it's no one's fault but your own! (And possibly everyone else who didn't vote.)

I don't say that to be mean, but I have a few relatives who don't vote, saying that it doesn't matter if they do or not and it drives me nuts. If their votes don't matter, then what's the point of living in a democracy in the first place?

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000


Want to know my response to: "voting for Nader is taking away a vote from Gore"?

Good.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000


If I found a candidate who wasn't Democrat or Republican, who I DID agree with and had a serious chance, I'd vote for him/her. I really would. I'm just being honest with myself. I don't like Ralph Nader so I'm not fucking voting for him. It's very simple. I don't think he has much of a chance either.

Especially in this election, I will vote for ANYONE that isn't Bush. However, this person also has to have a strong chance of winning. Aside from the fact that I agree with Gore's stance on a lot of issues, this all factors in to why I'm voting for him. The one issue that's really important to me is a woman's right to choose and taxes. I don't need that fake Texan-accent having mo-fo telling me what to do with my body, what to read, and what to watch on TV. Tax cuts would be nice but I know that the money has to come from somewhere. We can't spend our entire surplus on tax cuts; Social Security, Medicare, that's all important to me. It just is.

I'm all for some serious 3rd party action within State governments and Congress; I think that's how it'll have to be. A slow, gradual ease and progression into having more than one party.

Bill Maher is the poor man's Dennis Miller.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2000


I'm not old enough to vote. That really doesn't matter anyways since I don't ever plan on voting as it is. End O' Story.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

I'm voting for Ralph Nader, 3rd party all the way. I think he's got a chance, if not this time than in 2004. If people see a 3rd party candidate is a real threat and a real option this time around, then watch out next time around! My favorite Nader line: "If we keep voting for the lesser of two evils, they candidates will continue getting lesser, and more evil!"

-- Anonymous, August 29, 2000

I read in intresting topic where you have no rights when you enter a voting booth...so when i step in it i think im going to light a phat joint...and make all of my decesions from that point.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

I wish I were old enough to vote. Don't turn 18 til January. Curses. I'd vote Nader all the way, though.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

il b old enuf to vote in 2001 but that wont do me too much good now.but anyhoo i would vote Harry Browne hes not going to win yea i know but its not like ppl say"leser of the two evils "its like whos gunna rape you in the ass and whos gunna rape you in the mouth ,there both the same they just wanna fuck you. and to dan Libertarians are NOT just Republicans who smoke weed you should realy read up www.lp.org they think you should be free to do with your body what you want aslong as you dont mess with other ppl or there stuff .anywayshes i would vote for Harry Browne bcuz hes just a nice fellow allaround he'd realy clean up this place and you might not know that the Libertarian party is the 3'd bigest party well all of you should go to www.lp.org they have a qwiz there take it and yuoe will prbly find out that your Libertarian :)

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

yes i am im voting for gore because gore look more nicer than bush bush i so mean i dont wont him to be it he been it before stop bein greedy let gore be it we wont gore we wont gore gore gore

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

This will be a relatively short response. First, have any of you people done ANY research on these presidential candidates? Most of you are either too young to vote; or have just made it to voting age. I have read many of your responses; some of which are against the NRA. Have any of you actually READ the Constitution? Have you heard of the second amendment; which guarantees our right as US citizens to own firearms? How many of you actually believe that a criminal won't purchase a gun 'on the street' to commit a crime -- although it's illegal? Now; here's another one. Let's say that you're a gun toting robber. You see me on the street and decide to rob me. Would you think twice if the possibility exists that I may be carrying a gun? Damn right you would! My point is : removing guns from US citizens will not stop crime. However; if you look at Florida's law (right to carry concealed weapons) -- gun crimes have dropped by %70. This is one thing that Al Gore stands for. How many of you with kids would take a knife a stab your child to death? There is no difference between that and sucking a (non-wanted) child into a sink after 4 to 6 months of pregnancy. Have any of you EVER seen an aborted baby? If you had, I bet you'd change your mind. This is what Al Gore stands for. I read that one of you is for BIGGER government. So basically I guess you are for socialism. This system has NOT worked for ANY nation on this planet (do your research!). So far government has managed to screw up EVERYTHING it's been involved in for the last 50 years. I could go on and on; but I said I would keep it short. One final thought : The next time (or first time) someone breaks into your house and decides to rape and beat you -- I don't want to hear any complaints about it, if you don't have a gun close by to defend yourself. I guarantee -- if any of you find yourself in that situation -- you'll damn sure wish you had one. By the way; I'm 34 and have a lot more life experience than most of you. Listen to your elders.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000

Ah, gotcha. So basically, since I'm 18 and I just reached the voting age, I know nothing. My opinion doesn't count. My vote doesn't count. Gee, that sucks. Oops, I'm sorry. Gee, that sucks, sir.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000

dear sir, i have been of voting age for over a year now. during the past four years, i've been part of a debate team, taken politics and sociology classes, and have basically kept up with the news. i am aware of the issues and of history. i have always been, and voting age is not directly proportional to opinions or information.

do not come around making assumptions about people's backgrounds based on two or three sentence posts. it makes you look incredibly stupid and condescending, which, based on your ignorant post, i am pretty sure that you are.

as far as socialism "not working", this is a relative term, baby. cuba has free health care, nearly 100 percent literacy, free public education and other social rights that the americans can only dream about. the reason they are so fucked is because the united states are a bunch of morons who can't handle other people having a different mode of government. there are people who

the constitution was written a very long time ago by a bunch of white slave owners. isn't it time we tried somethign new?

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000


Now that Bush is in control for the next four years, what can we do? I'm really scared of what will happen to our country and our rights. He is a blabbering idiot...the mentality of a neanderthal trying to memorize what his speachmakers told him to say. Can't we split the country up? half of us can live w/ gore as pres, the other bush? that'd make for an interesting four years. But seriously, do you think he'll actually be able to take away existing rights? I mean his views on hate crimes, women's rights, minority issues, etc. Where do we go from here? I'm considering canada...

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2000

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