If “None of the Above” were the name of a political candidate, it would most likely win a majority of today’s election races.
More Americans now identify themselves as independents than either Democrats or Republicans.
Yet, independents and third-party candidates almost never win elections. They aren’t even on the political radar screen. Out of 537 elected officials in Washington, only two are actual independents — Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Angus King (Maine). Everyone else in the federal system is wrapped up, bought, and paid for by the two major political parties and their powerful puppet masters.
People insist they’re angry. Approval ratings for the House and Senate have bottomed out at all-time lows, currently at around 15 percent. That’s about on par with used car salesmen. Virtually no one in America, aside from party hacks and powerful interest groups which are designed to screw the working class of this nation, are satisfied with congressional leadership and gridlock.
The terrible irony here is that so many citizens of different political persuasions are disgusted with the political process and members of congress churned out by this industrialized clusterfuck of mass corruption and ineptitude. Yet, they do nothing to bring about change, nor will they break away from self-defeating voting patterns which clearly don’t reflect their views and interests. Something is seriously wrong in America when a majority of low and middle-class people are voting for candidates backed by big banks, giant corporations, and insurance companies.
So, for those of us who are royally pissed off at the two major political parties and most of their candidates — what do we do today? How should progressives vote?
Tough question.
Answering this question requires some painful compromises and Machiavellian pragmatism. Consider the following:
(1) Staying at home and not voting isn’t an option. Independents must get out and vote. A low voter turnout most certainly helps Republicans. This is the reason why the Republican Party tries to make voting more difficult for most people. Republicans love voter apathy.
(2) We mustn’t reward Republicans, which have become the party of blatant obstructionism. Because of Republican opposition, nothing gets done in Washington, which is exactly what they want — a castrated federal system. Republicans have stonewalled every significant piece of legislation designed to help the working class — from health care reform to consumer protections, to increasing the minimum wage. For most Americans, voting Republican is political suicide.
(3) Most incumbent Democrats don’t deserve to be re-elected. These gutless cowards should be kicked out of the office for consistently misrepresenting themselves as liberals and failing to deliver on progressive policies. They’re little more than “Republican Lite.” If Democrats controlling the House and Senate means more of the same milquetoast leadership from the likes of Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid (arguably, the worst majority leaders in history), we’re probably just as doomed as if Mitch McConnell and John Boehner ran the entire show. What the Democrats desperately need are more leaders with courage — like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
(4) If the political system was truly designed to represent all Americans (big surprise — it isn’t), then voting percentages would be apportioned to parties and candidates based on their level of support in elections. Libertarians, Greens, and Socialists would all have at least a few seats in Congress. So would the Tea Party. So would just about every political idea or movement. Of course, it’s not that way. This is why it’s important to vote for independents and third-party candidates whenever possible. True that very few have any chance of winning. But as they say, every meaningful journey begins with a first step. If those of us who are angry with Democrats and Republicans won’t vote for an independent, then who will?
(5) We should support candidates of the two major parties who display non-partisan voting patterns. Elected officials who break away from their party are the best weapons we have to break the stranglehold of congressional leadership which often crushes alternative ideas and bi-partisanship.
Here are my endorsements for the 2014 general midterm elections (Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District):
(Governor) David Gibson of the Green Party — Incumbent Gov. Brian Sandoval is a true maverick with many good ideas and intentions who deserves to be re-elected He’s governed in a non-partisan manner and is popular across party lines. He will win today’s gubernatorial race in a landslide. Gov. Sandoval is one of the few Republicans who break away from the national party on its reactionary social positions. He’s championed legalized online poker and gambling. He works well with Democrats. Gov. Sandoval is an ideal leader who has a very bright future should he decide to run for an even higher office. I very much believe in rewarding this kind of non-partisan leadership, and I’d vote for Gov. Sandoval if he were in danger of losing. But since he’s all but assured of winning, instead I’ll throw my support to the Green Party candidate for Governor, David Gibson.
(Congress) Erin Bilbray of the Democratic Party — I’m making a painful compromise here by voting for Democratic instead of for an independent. The House is most certainly going to remain controlled by Republicans. However, this district is actually “in play” and could go either way. While Rep. Joe Heck isn’t quite as bad as most congressional Republicans, he’s still misrepresented the Affordable Care Act and gone along with obstructionists in his party. He’s also done virtually nothing in support of online poker and gambling, failing to say or do much even though every other elected official in the state supports it (a favor to Sheldon Adelson perhaps). Rep. Heck must be punished and the best way to do this is voting for the only candidate with a serious chance at removing him from office, and that’s the Democrat, Erin Bilbray.
(All Other Races) — In every other race, I am voting either Socialist or Green Party. There are no other candidates which have made an impression on me, other than being bombarded constantly by all of them via automated phone calls and mass mailers. I’ll make my political statement by supporting candidates with new ideas who are part of the solution, rather than the problem.
One more:
Tax Commissioner (North Dakota) Tony Mangnall of the Libertarian Party — My pal, Tony Mangnall of “Poker Night in America” is running as the Libertarian candidate for Tax Commissioner of North Dakota, an office he hopes to abolish if elected. I disagree with just about everything he stands for politically, but since he’s an avowed atheist and friend of mine, I’ll swallow my pride and encourage my groundswell of loyal readers in North Dakota to vote for Tony. I can see the election night party now, serenaded by the music of GWAR.
If you agree with me, get out and vote. If you don’t, then please stay home!