The Two Party System is Failing Us

I've been talking to friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers about the upcoming election. Overwhelmingly, liberals, some who prefer to be called progressives, are supporting Barack Obama with only knowledge of his rhetoric. They haven't researched his voting record or his means for accomplishing the ideas he rarely discusses on the campaign trail. They can't answer the question, "What cause does he want us to become united for or against?" You'd think they would at the very least know what Barack's talk about unity is directed towards. What they can do is repeat the empty slogan, "Yes we can!"

I've done some research for the sake of having a general understanding of what accomplishments Barack has achieved and what his plans are should he become the next president of the United States. It is the least I could do with regards to forming an opinion of who deserves my vote for such an important office.

In my digging I've discovered some discouraging information which I've shared on this blog since its inception. Barack is a supporter of the Bush White House's Energy Policy Act of 2005. His proposed energy policy should he become the next president involves subsidizing big oil, coal and nuclear energy at a far more substantial rate than renewable sources such as solar and wind. Barack is for limiting damages awarded to those who suffer from medical malpractice. Barack is opposed to creating caps for interest rates charged by credit industries. Barack has said he is committed to growing the military budget which already consumes half of our tax dollars annually. The list goes on. The question this brings to my mind is - is this truly the candidate of change? It seems to me that at best this is the candidate of marginal improvement from what we're experiencing currently. And is what we're experiencing now not a tragedy for humanity? Will this era in America not be viewed as a blunder on behalf of human civilization for as long as history texts are in existence?

Moving along, the Democratic Party which Barack Obama is a member of has failed their obligation to serve as an oppositional party in this two-party system we are all suffering from. Instead of resisting the policies which have shamefully been written into law and waged against the American people as well as some unfortunate nations of the world by the Republicans, they have served as accomplices. When George demanded the authority to declare war against whoever he perceived as a threat to the United States, the Democrats did not object. When the Republicans hastily proposed the PATRIOT Act and demanded it be made law, the Democrats complied. When the Bush White House nominated corporatist judges for our Supreme Court, the Democrats helped seat them at the highest office in the land. When Bush openly admitted to championing a policy to spy on Americans all the meanwhile ignoring the FISA Act, the Democrats shrugged their shoulders and looked the other way. When those same Democrats became the majority in both houses of congress, when they were then given the full constitutional capability to hold this administration accountable, they sneezed and made excuses for why they shouldn't.

In the forefront of this spectacle is Barack Obama himself. He has said on more than one occasion that he would be opposed to impeachment for President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney should the opportunity to vote ever come across his plate. The man is a constitutional lawyer. He knows that they have committed impeachable offenses. Yet he states publicly that he is opposed to holding them accountable, the action which is recommended and provided by the Constitution of the United States of America. Is his unwilligness to do what is right political cowardice?

I believe if the public were to take the time to sift through the information they are bombarded with and extract the facts that truly matter, they'd realize that the real candidate for change, the candidate that is actually interested in serving the majority of Americans most fundamental interests, the candidate that has been doing so his entire adult life in our nation's capital, is Ralph Nader.

Take a moment to watch his running mate, Matt Gonzalez, talk about why he believes Barack Obama is not the candidate of change. Then watch Matt Gonzalez's speech which has been divided up into five segments and is posted directly below. In the speech Matt Gonzalez clearly articulate how the two party system currently in power is failing us and why we need alternative options when we elect our representatives. Then, vote your conscience come election day.