Archive for the ‘2008 election’ Category
This is what you voted for Oklahoma!
In re-electing Inhofe:
You voted in support of a Constitutional ban on flag desecration – so in essence you oppose freedom of speech and freedom of expression – Good call!
You voted in support of a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage – again, you oppose civil rights – is it really any of your business who a person marries?
You voted for continued tax subsidies for companies that move jobs overseas – you do realize some of those jobs were FROM Oklahoma, right? – another good call!
You voted for Increased funding of our U.S. tax dollars to fund the useless drug war.
You voted against smaller class sizes.
You voted against additional funding for education.
You voted against tax incentives for energy conservation – I guess you want to continue spending $3/gallon for gas.
You voted against higher standards for pollution (Inhofe states pollution is at an all time low!)
You voted in support of Congress receiving gifts from lobbyists.
You voted to support of businesses that interfere with union organization.
You voted to oppose pulling troops out of Iraq and more defense spending.
Aren’t you proud of yourselves?
Oklahomans Re-Elect Live Turd!
Ralph Nader on Tax Reform
Mr. Nader recently gave his policy for tax reform in this quick little poem:
“tax first what we burn not what we earn.
tax first what we bet not what we net.”
Quick easy way to sum it all up for the sound bite folks. 
What the heck is a consumer advocate?
Earlier today I was talking with a co-worker about Ralph Nader and why I was supporting him over the 2 major party candidates. During the discussion I mentioned the term consumer advocate at which I was asked, “What is a consumer advocate?” It had not dawned on me that there are people that don’t actually know what this means so I thought I would explain it a little here so those that read it might have a better understanding of where Mr. Nader is coming from.
In its simplest terms, a consumer advocate is a person (or group) that fights to protect consumer interests in areas such as safety or health. They lobby the government to regulate industries about their goods and services.
For instance, laws such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or the Truth in Lending Act were federal laws in this country brought about by consumer advocacy.
In Mr. Nader’s case, his efforts have led to things like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Drinking Water Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Other notable consumer advocates include Florence Kelley, who works primarily in the area of children’s rights.
In the United States, groups such as the Better Business Bureau, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Consumer Federation of America, are considered consumer advocacy groups.
So who are consumer advocates? Quite simply, they are lobbyists that lobby not for big business, but for the only special interest group that should matter, the people of the United States.
When you go vote tomorrow (or later today depending on where you are in the country when this was posted) remember who is really on your side? The Democrats? The Republicans? Or is it someone who has been fighting for you for almost 5 decades.
He Can’t Win Part 2
Chris Hedges writes on truthdig.com:
I know the tired arguments against a Nader vote. He can’t win. A vote for Nader is a vote for McCain. He threw the election to George W. Bush in 2000………Nader would win among us in a landslide if this [election] was based on issues. Sen. Barack Obama’s vote to renew the Patriot Act, his votes to continue to fund the Iraq war, his backing of the FISA Reform Act……his refusal to champion universal, single-payer not-for-profit health care for all Americans, his call to increase troop levels and expand the war in Afghanistan, his failure to call for a reduction in the bloated and wasteful defense spending and his lobbying for the huge taxpayer swindle known as the bailout are repugnant…………Nader stands on the other side of all those issues.
So if the argument is not about issues what is it about?
What do you think? What is this election about if not the issues?
He Can’t Win
Without a doubt, the best candidates for any given office are not even considered by the voters.
We all can agree that there are other, “third-party” candidates who would do a better job than our other two choices. We can agree with everything this person says. But we (as Americans in general) will not vote for this person because we say to ourselves, “He can’t win!”
Where have the “major” parties gotten us in the past hundred years? Why is it that a country founded on ideals and principles, not party politics, has abandoned those principles?
Why is it that we are convinced, either by others, or have convinced ourselves, that there is no alternative and that anyone running a third-party candidacy is wasting our time and theirs?
Why are we so easily fooled that the only options we have are the Democratic and Republican parties?
Why is it that no matter how many people get on a soapbox and say something needs to change and no matter how many people can and do agree that the two-party system is a failure and how much they wish there was another option, do not exercise that option and place their votes for someone they believe in because they think it is a wasted vote?
If all the people that really wanted meaningful change and really wanted another option other than the GOP or the Democratic Party…if they really wanted to effect real change in the way our country is ran, they could actually make a difference. If only they would believe that their vote will count and go into that ballot box and put their check mark next to a person who is really willing to make this a country, once again, of the people, by the people and for the people.
Just something to think about.
Vote for Nader!
I endorse (and have already voted for) Ralph Nader for President.
If you are really sick of a government that allows the two-party system to have complete control over it – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of presidential candidates arguing over lapel pins instead of addressing the REAL problems of Americans daily lives – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allow billions of our tax dollars to be used on tax breaks, subsidies and bailouts for mega-corporations – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allows international trade agreements to undermine American jobs, worker’s rights, environmental protections and consumer rights – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that has allowed the Patriot Act to violate or destroy our basic common civil liberties – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allows predatory lending and economic insecurity to put 3 million people out of their homes while bankers get million dollars vacations – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allows money to be taken out of the pockets of hard-working Americans like yourself to be handed over to Big Oil and Wall Street – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allows 47 million Americans to have no health insurance whatsoever – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that perpetuates our reliance on foreign oil – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of a government that allows the continuing funding of wars, instead of funding our schools and meetings the real needs of its citizens – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you are sick of simply not having a choice, or having to choose between the lesser of two evils – cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
If you wants to see actual, meaningful change in our government – the only real choice you have is to cast your vote for Ralph Nader.
How I Am Voting This Election
Props to Oklahoma Lefty who I stole this idea from.
So much for the secret ballot. LOL!
U.S. President
Barack Obama v John McCain
My Vote: Neither, I am voting for Ralph Nader.
U.S. Senate
No election for that in the state of Washington this year.
WA State Governor
Christine Gregoire v. Dino Rossi
My Vote: I am writing in my own name. Don’t like either candidate.
Lieutenant Governor
Brad Owen v.Marcia McCraw
My Vote: I am pretty sure that I will end up writing in a name on this one too. I don’t care good or bad for either of them.
U.S. Congress
In my district it is Jay Inslee v. Larry Ishmael
My Vote: Jay Inslee
WA Secretary of State
Sam Reed v Jason Osgood
My Vote: Jason Osgood
WA State Treasurer
Allan Martin v Jim McIntire
My Vote: Jim McIntire
WA State Auditor
Brian Sonntag v J. Richard McEntee
My Vote: J. Richard McEntee
WA State Senate
In my district it is Rosemary McAulifee v. Dave Richter
My Vote: Rosemary McAuliffe
WA State House of Representative
In my district Al O’Brien is running unopposed.
WA State Attorney General
Rob McKenna v. John Landenburg
My Vote: Rob McKenna
WA State Public Lands Commissioner
Doug Sutherland v Peter Goldmark
My Vote: Peter Goldmark
WA State Insurance Commissionar
Mike Kreidler v John R. Adams
My Vote: Mike Kreidler
WA Superintendent of Pulic Instruction
Teresa Bergeson v Randy Dorn
My Vote: Randy Dorn
There are also several initiatives up for a vote this time around too.
Proposition Regarding Mass Transit
My Vote: I am voting YES on this one.
Proposition Regarding Death With Dignity
After much consideration and fighting myself back and forth on this one…
My Vote: I am voting YES for this one
Proposition Regarding Funding for Pulic Parks
My Vote: I am voting YES for this one.
Proposition Regarding Requirements for Home Health Care Providers
My Vote: I am voting NO on this one.
Nader On The Issues Part Two
Since my post back in August, which was titled Need More Choices, I have talked to even more people lately are still terribly undecided. A lot of it due to feeling like they really really don’t want to vote for either Obama or McCain. They either just flat out don’t like either of them or they don’t think he (the country that is) would be better off with either one of them in office.
Furthermore, there are more and more people that have discussed not even bothering to vote because they don’t want to have to make that decision.
The fact is, as I have pointed out, there are other options. I have included on this blog a few of the positions of Brian Moore (the candidate for the Socialist Party USA party), Chuck Baldwin (candidate for the Constitution party), Gloria La Riva (candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation), Charles Jay (candidate for the Boston Tea Party), and last but not least Ralph Nader (running as an independent). Some may remember and might even think of him as the man that “stole” the election away from Al Gore in 2000.
In any case, I wanted to post a general overview of some of the ideas he has for change in this country (the reason I am posting his ideas and not some of the other parties candidates is pretty simple: he is probably the only one of the independents that anyone has ever heard of and has a better chance of getting any meaningful votes).
He SUPPORTS a single payer national health insurance.
He OPPOSES the bloated, wasteful military budget.
He SUPPORTS investing in solar energy.
He SUPPORTS cracking down on corporate welfare and corporate crime.
He SUPPORTS a carbon pollution tax.*
He OPPOSES the Taft-Harley anti-union law.
He SUPPORTS the National Initiative.**
He SUPPORTS opening up Presidential debates to candidates outside the Republican or Democratic Party.
* The idea behind the carbon pollution tax is that we can’t just propose legislation “promising” to reduce carbon emissions. One way to really see lasting change is this area is to make the emission of greenhouse gases more expensive. The more we have to pay to pollute the atmosphere, the less likely we are to do so.
Sounds like a good idea. And it could work. The problem is who is he saying should pay this tax? Just corporations? Anyone that owns a gas-emitting vehicle? I might have to do some more reading on this one.
** The National Initiative is an idea that gives American citizens more choice and participation in decision-making in our political system. In essence, it gives us the right to the People to make or change laws by an initiative. It is a proposed amendment to the constitution that will recognize the legislative power of the people to make laws and permit the people to amend the constitution by holding elections.
This actually sounds like a good idea and might be something I need to devote an entire post to later on. It is basically like what the citizens of a state or country or locality can do but on a national level. Makes total sense to me.
So anyway, you don’t like McCain and don’t want to vote for him but you can’t stomach the idea of voting for Obama either? Well here is another one of your choices.
Newest Poll Results
Here are the newest Presidential poll results as compiled by the Gallup Poll on 10/25/2008:
