By Mel Graykin, New Hampshire voter, writer and blogger
One of the great disadvantages of living in New Hampshire is its "first in the nation" primary status. Our two annointed political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, put on a ridiculous show here for the media every four years as they promote their chosen candidates for the presidency.
Supposedly, the voters make their choice, but in reality, the choice is all but settled before we ever get to the polls.
I suppose it isn't much different in Great Britain, or in any other country where "democratic" elections are held. It is the first duty of those in power to stay in power, and thus they do their utmost to make sure whoever gets into office is under their control.
It's really the corporations and the wealthy elite who pull the strings, no candidate has a chance of getting anywhere without their blessing. It's really painful to watch.
I perso
nally supported Dennis Kucinich, because he has been consistently in the right on all the issues I care about. He was one of the very few who voted against the war in Iraq right from the start, opposing the invasion before it became fashionable to be anti-war. He is the only one who supports single payer universal health coverage. He is very green, environmentally speaking, and very progressive when it comes to social issues. He also is in no one's pocket, refusing to be bought by the special interests. He never had a chance.
Kucinich was arguably the best candidate on the Democratic side. What really brings me to despair is that this isn't just my opinion. A very large number of voters agree with me--including not a few Republicans.
Even if they don't agree with him on specific issues, his integrity is unimpeachable. So why did he do so poorly in the polls? He was branded an outside candidate, and shunned by the media.
Repeat after me: Kucinich may be the best candidate, but he doesn't have a prayer of winning, therefore you must not waste your vote on him.
Tell people that enough and they will believe you. I am not as familiar with the Republican candidates, but since the Republican Party is traditionally a good friend of Business and the Wealthy (at least in modern times) they don't present too much of a threat to the Powers That Be.
It's the Democrats that have to be carefully managed. It'll be easy, now. They've got their frontrunners, bought and paid for, whose positions are barely distinguishable from one another, all carefully crafted by the polls.
Well, whoever they end up choosing, I don't see how they could be worse than our present leader, who is a dangerous embarrassment.
No matter what is said about politicla America, one thing for sure, "Its Another World-DJ Shog".
Posted by: Khalid 14 Jan 2008 10:07:09
Out of the frontrunners, Barack is the only one that does not accept contributions form lobbyists and special interest groups.
Posted by: chris akkad birmingham uk 11 Jan 2008 23:08:07
Go Mel. You are correct about everything you say about Kucinich [although I was an Edwards supporter for some different reasons]. The reason given to keep the NH primary first is because it is not about money and any candidate can get a message out. That may have once been true but now it is all about money, both spent by the candidates who have lots, and spent by the national media who focus on those they label the 'frontrunners'. If the NH primary really worked as it should, thery would be no media allowed, no polls, and just find out the results on primary election day.
Posted by: Maureen [Deerfield, NH, USA] 11 Jan 2008 14:46:03