Reply #19: The best argument I've seen is Granny D's: [View All]

"When we have reasonable people in power, let us start our arguments again, for we can not move forward unless we have a decent government underneath us and a Bill of Rights to let us speak freely."

(read her whole piece here: http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15789 )

I readily admit that I do not feel particularily inspired by Kerry -- but I DO feel extremely inspired to get rid of bush* and his criminal cabal.

The national Democratic party, by in large, is way too beholden to the corporate powers-that-be, imho, BUT they have not been overtaken by the religious zealots and bigots as has the Republican party.

This is a very important distinction. There are still rational minds within the Democratic party, and for all their serving the interests of the moneyed elite, there remains at least some traditional sense of "noblesse oblige" -- that is, the idea that those who have much have SOME responsibility toward those who have little.

This is my argument for those who would turn away from voting altogether, or would vote third party: Kerry is simply the tool we have at hand to evict the bush maladministration. He's our crowbar, he's simply the necessary first step in what has to be a very long and involved struggle to bring this country into sanity.

He is "reasonable", as Granny D says. He is not insane. That's an important starting point. We cannot get to where we would like to go without taking the first step in that direction.

There's alot more I'd like to say. Although a non-native myself, I have been involved in native political issues for a number of years through personal relationships with tribal members in my area. In the 2002 election I worked with the local band members to register new voters, and will be working again to get out the vote on the local rez this year.

I would REALLY appreciate hearing more of your thoughts here!

sw