The Lens with Which We View This Election

The parable’s effectiveness hinges upon whether or not Obama is a life raft.

I also do not know why the helicopter could not airlift me out of the water and why it leaves me all alone in the middle of the ocean with a life raft to fend for myself. In a rescue situation, it seems like standard procedure would mean that a helicopter would rescue me from the ocean (unless this parable comes from the television series Lost).

Apparently, if Obama, the life raft, is not embraced, I will drown. Why will I drown?

The ocean (which could be the Bush administration and its policies, neoconservatism, or just plain conservatism) I guess will swallow me whole and bring my life to a bitter end. Like something out of Greek mythology, Poseidon (McCain) will take my soul.

Also, the parable does not mention that the cruise liner (Nader/Gonzalez) will face man-made barriers and that is why it will never rescue me from the ocean. 

I do not claim to know exactly what it takes to achieve progressive victories, but I do have the courage based on convictions to say that progressive victories will not be won by relying on corporate centrist politicians.

Obama may have better odds than McCain does when it comes to who will be the most tolerant of progressives’ desire for immediate action and reform, but this isn’t a horse race (despite the fact that the media treats it like one). We are not wagering bets at the Kentucky Derby but are voting for who will occupy the Executive Branch for the next four years.

Plus, such assertions about Obama versus McCain forget the fact that Congress will determine what changes during the next four years and if we have any fears about McCain, we should recognize that they stem from the spinelessness and complicity that Democrats have exhibited throughout the Bush's reign over America. 

I may insinuate and outright suggest that somebody is not truly progressive, but that is only because I doubt the tactics being employed by those who claim to uphold progressive values yet are voting for Obama.

I also worry that ideas have become secondary and looks and appearances in situations like elections have become far more important. This has rendered politics and elections inconsequential to shifting power from the few to the many.

One might think that voting third party as a way of upholding progressive values is actually doing more damage because third party candidates cannot win. One might also add that such a vote will make absolutely no difference for whatever issues I care about.

First, that’s saying that I am doing this for myself and only myself. I support third parties because I wish to forge a future that I do not believe the Democrats or Republicans will ever give Americans. 

Second, the media trains us to not give third party candidates a chance.

The media teaches us to think in terms of Democrat and Republican. Part of what I found to be liberating about supporting third party candidates is that I no longer thought in terms of “us vs. them.” 

I no longer think Republicans are out to get Democrats. I don’t find Democrats to be saviors and Republicans to be devilish fiends.

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