On Thu, 1 Mar 2001 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Anyone who voted for Ralph Nader Last year did just that, they voted for
> Ralph Nader and helped the growth of the Green Party. I beleive that shows
> courage, conviction and a true respect for the values of democracy--and they
> should be proud of it.
>
It showed nothing. It showed an ignorance of statistics and a belief that
a small group of liberal progressives could vote their conscience. Nader
did not even beat Gore in the University precincts (He did finish
second once (in 2-3?)) The whole candidacy was a total waste of energy
that could have been used to break the republican hold on the state
legislature or keep Mark Kennedy out of Washington.
>
> Democracy does not exist when votes are held ransom out of fear, scaring
> voters into voting for the lesser of two evils rather than the candidate who
> best represents their values.
>
It's nothing to do with fear. His stances are inconsistent with those of
most Americans. The president represents all Americans. If Nader is not
even the second choice in the most liberal city in the most liberal state
in the US. He will never mean anything.
Most Americans support globalization, capital punishment, the
drug war, ending the marriage penalty, paycheck protection and a host of
other issues that are anathema to Nader's killjoy refrain. Democrats know
how to protect their rights and freedoms as best the organized majority
will allow. It seems that all the Greens can do is yell and get beat up.
>
> In my mind, holding a grudge against those who had the conviction to support
> Ralph Nader is pointless. This only makes it harder for those Nader
> supporters (who truly have much to offer) to serve their community. This
> summer there will only be two candidates on the ballot in November for each
> municipal election. Democracy will work if voters vote based on issues, not
> grudges.
>
I promised myself that I'd tone down my ant-Nader rhetoric after the
campaign. Then, I saw him on CNN whining about how Gore took his
votes. The guy has no clue. He has done wonderful things as an activist
but his career as a politician has been a miserable disappointment. It
has shown him to be petty, indignant and as his criticism of the Sierra
Club showed, factually challenged.
>
> I commend those local candidates who have the courage to admit that they
> supported Ralph Nader and helped guarantee us more choices in future
> elections by giving us major party status in MN.
>
I have never been a DFL Poobah and have supported more than my share of
unendorsed candidates. But, I think voting green as a DFLer is no
different than crossing a picket line as a worker. It will put some
food in your stomach, but it screws your friends. They have absolutely
no reason to take you back. Treason is generally unforgivable. Has
anyone run a negative piece for the ward conventions? Someone should.
Evan.
Evan Schnell
Ward 1, Como
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"I too am a wartime consigliere." --Leo McGarry "The West Wing"
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