As a Canadian watching and reading this ongoing debate about ABB and
Nader on this list, I feel a certain sense of frustration, not least of
which is the fact that we have no say in the election even though our
lives will be greatly affected by the outcome. The absolute revulsion
against the evil that is Bush is palpable through most of Canada and it
is hard for us to fathom how he could even be in the running with his
record of economic disaster, lies and distortions, war mongering and
civil rights abuses. (see for instance the article by Lawrence Martin
in todays G&M on Bush's carpet of blatent lies and the refusal of the
American media to report his lies). It has been pointed out many times
on this list and elsewhere that, if the world had the vote, Bush would
lose miserably -- probaly Nader would come second to Kerry. Yet this
list is preoccupied with whether one per cent or two of the population
should vote for Nader rather than Kerry.
No one that I know thinks that Kerry will make a great president.
The only question is can you take the chance of Bush being elected
(for the first time) and thereby threatening the world with rampant
imperialism, death and destruction, or voting for Kerry with the
possibility of a less virilent and unilateral imperialism and, possibly,
the opportunity to influence the outcome through political action and
democratic mobilization. Bush is hell-bent for destruction and no
amount of domestic political pressure will change his course which, as
we all know, is dictated by god. (Bush as the American Pope?) Is Kerry
so demon driven?
During the post WW2 debates we all criticized the German population
because they did not stand up to fascism and ignored or refused to
recognize the increasing control of Hitler and fascist policy. Now I
know we are not supposed to use the words Hitler and fascism on this
list, but viewed from outside the US borders, there are disturbing
parallels that have some of us, next door neighbours, nervous. One the
racial/ethnic targetting of non-white ('brown'), muslims. Two the
growing restrictions on civil rights including the stacking of the
Supreme Court. Three, growing militarism abroad in the quest of
'lebensraum' -- in this case oil. Four, the use of torture and
assasination in the pursuit of military domination. Five, the invention
of knowingly false "cause" (the Rikstag fire) as an excuse for
repression and/or war (WMD in Iraq, mass executions and graves in
Kosovo). Six, electoral fraud to fix elections (Florida in 2000 and
numerous cases documented on this list in the last few weeks) in support
of Bush, etc. etc. Seven, the move into or against neighbours who do not
support the fatherland (Czechoslovakia -- Cuba, Venezuela). The
parallels to the rise of totalitarianism are, for me at least, quite
frightening.
Would Kerry be better? I don't know but he couldn't be worse. As
much as I like Nader and respect his positions and policies, which
unfortunately don't have an institutional support system, I know he will
not be elected. I am left with the opinion that Bush is such a great
evil that, whatever Kerry's sins (of omission and comission), I would
have to vote for him if I were American if only to protect the rest of
the world against one of the most dangerous and evil administrations we
have encountered in the last 60 years.
Paul Phillips
Ralph Johansen wrote:
Speaking of poles, I had a Poli Sci prof who taught us Govt and
Poltitics of the USSR, in the 50's. After we had been thoroughly
convinced of how bad things were in that place, a woman spoke up, asking
what we could do, what did he prescribe for these shocked students. The
prof said oh, we're like the barber shop the guy came into to get shaved
(pole, see? orderly but meandering mind). The barber put a sheet on him
and lathered him up well. Then the barber removed the sheet and said
that'll be $5. The guy said but I came in for a shave. The barber said
you'll have to go across the street for a shave, we just lather here.
