Ripon College Days

In the past I have voted Democratic. I tend to care about things like welfare, health care and education, and I generally vote in favor of making them available to everyone who needs them. But during this election, I have been frustrated not only with the Democratic Party, but with the two-party system as a whole.

As for the Democratic Party, I, as well as many other liberals, don't agree with the stance that they have taken on the war in Iraq. There are many who have felt from the very beginning (portrayed by the hundreds of protests throughout the country and the world) that the war is wrong. Though the Democrats didn't come out on that platform. John Kerry voted for the war, and he's supporting it today. At least his campaign says so. He may have said "wrong war, wrong place, wrong time," but he has also aired in his campaign ads that "we will hunt down and kill the terrorists." Personally, I want a president who thinks killing people is wrong.

Although the issue of Iraq is very important to me, I'm also concerned about the reasons for which I'm voting. After talking to hundreds of people throughout the Midwest about the election, many people are voting for their particular candidate because they absolutely hate his opponent. So it is an obvious choice.

How unfortunate. It seems we should be voting for a candidate because we believe in him, because we agree with him, and we feel he will do a good job. Not because he's a smidgen better than the one other choice.

Certainly there are those who feel very confident in their choice, and are voting for John Kerry or George Bush with enthusiasm. But for those who are not, I wish they would recognize the availability of other choices.

There are other parties, and there are independents. And I feel strongly that these choices should be acknowledged.

Ralph Nader is a name that we all have come to know quite well. He's been around for a long time, and he has continued in his efforts to become president. Though he has never received more than five percent of the vote, there are those who agree with many of his ideas. Including myself.

I appreciate his bold stance on the environment. I appreciate his ideas on universal health care, and I appreciate that he believes in peace. But what I appreciate most is that he stands on principle, and not on the super giant of a "recognized" political party.

But if I vote for Ralph Nader, I am voting idealistically. On principal yes, but not realistically. I know that Ralph Nader will not be elected president today. And although I could say that is not what is important, it is.

In a year and a half I will be graduating from college. I will either be going out into the workforce, or continuing my education, both of which will be affected by presidential policy. I will be looking for health care, and that too, will affect me. Although it may be the "lesser of two evils," I still want the better one.

I appreciate John Kerry's view that we must regain our allies and we must reach out to the United Nations. We are now in Iraq, and we need help to alleviate the strife that we have, in part, caused. If we continue to ostracize other countries, I'm very afraid for the future.

I am willing to sacrifice some of my political inclinations for what I believe is a realistic, better America. Maybe the existence of other parties will soon be recognized. And I truly hope so. But in this election the support is simply not there. So I am voting for the issues that I agree with John Kerry about.

Tonight I will be sitting in front of the television hoping that Ralph Nader gets his five percent. But even more so, I will be hoping that John Kerry is elected president.

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