Worldview Item of the Day
Ralph Nader, sometime consumer advocate and political hyper-leftist, has announced that he is going to run for president.
This election is shaping up to be one of the most interesting ones in quite a long time. American politics have become fractious and vociferous, and I believe the current crop of candidates represents the fundamental American desire to find some political ground not dominated by the ideals of two-party politics and media talking-heads.
Consider that the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, is a political maverick considered to be an outsider by many of the party’s most faithful loyalists, yet he is supported and endorsed by many so-called Reagan conservatives and independents.
Consider that the leading Democrat candidate, Barack Obama, is a Washington freshman light on specifics but strong on messianic appeal. Somehow, he is out fund-raising, out crowd-drawing, and now out-winning, the previously unassailable Clintonian leadership of that party and seems headed for a route of the once vaunted Clinton political machine.
Consider that Nader is among a half dozen individuals, including New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Congressman Ron Paul, and others, who will or could run independent attempts at the White House, and who may very well capture enough of the vote to sway the election toward one side or the other.
What does all of this mean to American politics? I think it shows that it is time for the tired tradition of the two-party system to go. As an American voter, I don’t want Washington bigwigs and state party bosses determining who should run and who I should vote for. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with what we have for this election, but I think that the lesson of 2008 will be the independence of the American voter in 2012.
We can only achieve that independence, however, if we participate. It’s time for us as individuals, as communities, and as a nation to take back control of our own politics and to force those we vote for to represent us, not their own parties and special interests.
That’s why I’m happy to see a maverick, a messiah, and an advocate running for president so far. It shows that, just maybe, Americans are starting to realize that politics are theirs, not the Democrat or Republican parties’. May the best outsider win this election.
I totally agree. Honestly, its depressing to see how “one sided” our political system has become. Just look at Mike Huckabee! He is staying in the race until the primaries are over. Thats the way it should be. The republicans are frightened that if they don’t “unify” the base, the democratic nominee will become president. And to a degree thats true because “most” Americans don’t take the time to truly look at the individuals beliefs and record. They just follow the status quo. Frankly, I’m getting sick of it…
BTW, Nice post!
Thanks, Matt. Welcome aboard.
-=DLH=-
Yeah. Solid post and analysis. The most interestng thing of this interestng election cycle will be to see the effects that ’08 has on ’12.
Let’s hope all of these “newly interested” voters will stay interested, and get others involved.
My hope is not only to get new voters interested, but get them thinking about alternatives to the current system. Obviously Americans are already thinking, if only subconsciously through the desire for “change”.
I wonder what everyone thinks: I’ve had this idea floating around for a while of a political “alliance” (alliance to distinguish it from a party) that allows people to share political ideas and to select and support candidates without succumbing to the pressures of the current party system. Thoughts?
-=DLH=-