OpEdNews » What's Left?: A Campaign Without Viable Progressive Candidates

Tags for This Article:

Populum Tag Cloud Control Panel
	Fine tune your search to access content

Articles	Links
Diaries	Products
Events	All

All time
Last 6 mos
Last month
Last week
Last 24 hrs

From:
Month Day Year

To:
Month Day Year

Alphabet Popularity	Count ON Count OFF
This Level	Sub-levels

Tag(s): Clinton-Hillary; Courage; Dollar; Edwards John; History; Impeachment; Impeachment; Integrity; Kucinich-Dennis; Obama-Barack; (more...) Poverty; Power; Progressive Values - Issues; Rights; Security; Truth (less...)
Add to My Group

January 28, 2008 at 11:44:29

What's Left?: A Campaign Without Viable Progressive Candidates

by Jennifer Van Bergen (Posted by Kevin Gosztola) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

SAVE FAVORITES

VIEW FAVORITES

View Ratings | Rate It

With Kucinich out of the race, there are NO viable candidates left.

I'm sorry, I will not vote for somebody who compromises his or her morals and betrays his/her constituents and the US Constitution, not to mention international laws.

We are at a point in history where we cannot accept half measures any longer. Our world is in grave danger , we are torturing people, we are violating every law of humanity there is, our economy is so bad -- we don't realize -- the U.S. could very well go the way the Roman Republic did . . . and we are talking about whether Obama or Hillary is worse than the other . . . or significantly better than who, Huckabee, Ron Paul?

Sorry, not me. I'm not buying anymore. I'm with Kucinich all the way. I'm going the way he goes. He is the only one willing to tell the truth and keep on fighting for it. He is the only one with integrity or morals left.

If he's not on the ballot, I don't vote. But if I can join his wagon train, I will.

I don't recognize what I thought was my country, my homeland -- in the best sense of the word. I have spent many years, both as an adult and as a young child, living overseas, but it was always THIS country that was my home.

But I don't know if I want to be here any longer.

The dollar is dying. Does anyone here realize what that means for you and me? It means that if you are struggling now, you may well be in abject poverty soon. If you think you are powerless now, what then? Who listens to a person begging for food? Who listens to the disenfranchised? Who listens to a person who is suffering?

It means if you have health problems now, you may well die from lack of medical care sometime in the next few years. (See here about what's happening in the Congo. Most of the 45,000 deaths PER MONTH are medically preventable.)

I'm not even bringing up what's happening in Gaza.

Who do we think we are?! Who ARE we?

It is not enough to wave a sign on a street corner. It is not enough to vote -- especially when we don't even know if the votes will be counted. It is not enough to write op-eds or articles, letters to the editor, letters to our congress-persons, to speak before crowds, big or small, to march through the streets or travel to march in D.C. or elsewhere.

It is not enough to circulate news we already innately know or views we already agree with. Not enough even to argue face-to-face with our opponents or to cry out for impeachment. It's not enough to save electricity, grow our own food, stop driving a car. None of it really matters now. It's too little, too late.

Believe it or not, I'm not a pessimist. I am inherently an optimistic person. I believe that out of the ashes can come a brave new world.

But I also believe that there is such a thing as FINALITY. Stars can explode. Planets can die. Species can cease to exist. Forever. Obama and Hillary are going to be swallowed by this, just as well as Bush and Cheney. And the rest of us sorry and weary souls.

The only thing left is to be true to yourself and to your highest values. Live as honorably and as truthfully as you can, as one lone individual. Do what good you can and spend time with people who have integrity. Do no harm to others or to the environment; protect and preserve the Good, the True, and the Beautiful as best you can.

1 | 2

Contact Editor

Bookmark this page: (what's this?)

(More...)

12 comments

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

The Op-Ed I wanted to write

This is exactly how I am thinking and feeling now. And I wonder how many other Americans are feeling and thinking the same way.

by Kevin Gosztola (211 articles, 113 quicklinks, 68 diaries, 809 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:50:00 AM

Will update
CapecynWill update

What's Left?: A Campaign Without Viable Progressive Candidat

I am one of what I assume are many others who feel the same way. It is intensely sad that this is where we are and that America is sliding down that slippery slope to fascism. Sadder yet, not enough people realize it because of the media control over what we see and hear. We are ripe for a revolution and we must keep abreast of any further intentions to kill "Net Neutrality" and fight like hell to make sure we keep the only outlet we have left open for WE THE PEOPLE to know what is going on so we can fight the good fight.

by Capecyn (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 12:40:43 PM

The author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?
Tony ForestThe author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?

Wow

Kid ! 100 articles. Not bad. But remember me this, if you want to go into journalism, continue doing what you're doing right here. Anywhere else, you may make a living but you shall have no voice.

Great article there. It is very touching. I personally can't quite identify with it for two reasons though. One being, I never got behind Dennis the way I probably should have mainly because I lost faith in the US political system a few years ago and after going in to depth on MLK & JFK and even Malcom, I decided that if we ever had another good leader come around, he wouldn't live long enough to make real the changes he sets out to make. The powers most of us are not aware of will see to that. Of this, I am certain.

The other being, I gave my home up. I too saw the USA as home after a long stay oversea, but not any more. It wasn't a matter of choice, it just happened. America is no longer great in my eyes. It's not worth fighting for, it's well worth leaving. I apologize if anyone finds this to be offensive. I'm just being honest.

by Tony Forest (6 articles, 15 quicklinks, 153 diaries, 1350 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 12:08:13 PM

I have worked as a registered in a local VA hospital. It breaks my heart to see how our country has abandoned Veterans. I became politically active when Bush was elected in 2000. Everything seems to have turned south since then.
Leeann LoFasoI have worked as a registered in a local VA hospital. It breaks my heart to see how our country has abandoned Veterans. I became politically active when Bush was elected in 2000. Everything seems to have turned south since then.

My sentiments Exactly

What you wrote in your article, describes exactly how I feel. I beleive that voting for Obama or Hillary is a sell out to my progressive values. I have held my nose and voted for the Democratic candidate offered by the Party in the past, for the good of the Democratic Party, but this election I will not. I have drawn my line in the sand. The Democratic Party has had other candidates more in line with the grassroot beliefs and progressived ideals. Those candidtates were kicked to the curb, and set aside for the 2 front runner Media Candidates we currently have running. If the Democratic party wants to keep handing us Corporate Candidates to vote for, instead of the progressive ones the democratic base keeps asking for, I will not enable the party and keep doing it. I will sit the election out, if either Obama or Hillary are the choices offered come November!

by Leeann LoFaso (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 12:50:04 PM

I have to give credit where credit is due

Jennifer Van Bergen wrote this article, not me. I just think this is the article I had been trying to put together for days now. This is exactly how I feel. She beat me to getting a coherent article typed like this one. That's not a bad thing.

by Kevin Gosztola (211 articles, 113 quicklinks, 68 diaries, 809 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 3:27:52 PM

I'm a forty year old software developer. This year I will vote in a presidential election for the first time.
calvinI'm a forty year old software developer. This year I will vote in a presidential election for the first time.

No Viable Constitutionalist, or Viable Progressive?

Quote: "I'm sorry, I will not vote for somebody who compromises his or her morals and betrays his/her constituents and the US Constitution, not to mention international laws."

I'm not sure you have any idea who Ron Paul is if you're comparing him to Mike Huckabee - it sounds like you're implying Ron Paul betrays the Constitution, his morals, and international law. It's ok if you're opposed to Paul on social issues like gay marriage and abortion, but you lose credibility when you lump Dr. Paul in with the other candidates on the issues of international law, empire building, fiscal responsibility, and the Constitution. Personally, while I tend to lean towards conservative on the social issues, they are of little importance in comparison to the path our federal government is taking on foreign relations and monetary policy.

by calvin (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 12:55:35 PM

A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name

One person

cannot do anything. Please, do not get hypnotized. The current election system is for entertainment only. It is a theater.

Look into yourself and see what order of things would you prefer. And when you do look around and see which institutions are good for you and which are bad. Then pursue to destroy those which are bad while retaining those which are good.

We need moratorium on BS. We need new parties and new Congress. As that is the tassk no other changes are necessary. Just let's concentrate on destroying the Bush's legacy andd taking his people out. A monumental task indeed.

by Mark Sashine (51 articles, 19 quicklinks, 244 diaries, 3454 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 2:36:48 PM

Richard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.
Richard MynickRichard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.

Not to be overly dramatic, but this is what revolutions come

from. Don't misunderstand -- I'm not advocating violence, in saying this. But it has to be recognized that the political system is refusing to face vital issues that must be faced. It's refusing to respond to the popular will. The US government has become the enemy of most of the US population, as well as the rest of the world. Eventually, either the US population is going to accept this arrangement -- or it won't.

Arguing about which "candidate" or "party" is less evil, or who you're going to "hold your nose and vote for" is a way of accepting the arrangement.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1168 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 3:38:10 PM

By William E. Douglas, Jr., who is author of "The Amateur Parent – A Book on Life, Death, War & Peace, and Everything Else in the Universe." Bill has been a guest columnist for the Kansas City Star, The Business Journal, and other media worldwide. His past essays include, "Exposing the 9/11 Conspiracy Wingnuts," "The Explosion of the 9-11 Truth Movement -- US Media's Dirty Little Secret," "Good Night, and Good Luck - WMD, NIST, Popular Mechanics, ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Bill DouglasBy William E. Douglas, Jr., who is author of "The Amateur Parent – A Book on Life, Death, War & Peace, and Everything Else in the Universe." Bill has been a guest columnist for the Kansas City Star, The Business Journal, and other media worldwide. His past essays include, "Exposing the 9/11 Conspiracy Wingnuts," "The Explosion of the 9-11 Truth Movement -- US Media's Dirty Little Secret," "Good Night, and Good Luck - WMD, NIST, Popular Mechanics, ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

WHAT'S LEFT?? RON PAUL OF COURSE

Ron Paul is committed to ending the brutal CIA / Militarist US empire worldwide, and thereby saving hundreds of billions of US dollars every year, year after year.

THAT IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE IN MY LIFETIME.

Everyone stop whining about choices. You have one. RON PAUL !!

Ron Paul came in 2nd in Nevada, and it looks like 1st in Louisiana . . .

WHY IS CORPORATE MEDIA EFFECTIVELY CENSORING THAT ??

BECAUSE THEY ARE OWNED BY THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

CBS = WESTINGHOUSE

NBC = GE

THE TWO BIGGEST WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS ON THE PLANET.

Ron Paul's average donation is $52, no corporate money, yet he's got more money than Huckabee and Guiliani . . . WHO ARE BOTH BROKE.

McCaine is BROKE. Ron Paul's money pours forth.

JOIN THE RON PAUL REVOLUTION !!

by Bill Douglas (68 articles, 2 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 434 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 5:07:48 PM

I am a 22 year old graduate of the University of Chicago, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Ancient Greek. I have been happily married for 3 and a half years, no kids. I live in Springfield, Oregon where I am currently unemployed. I grew up the son of an evangelical minister but have completely rejected the institution of the church and the existence of God. I consider myself now to be an Atheist with a "spiritual" side. My wife says I'm a pantheist because I love nature so much. I wa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Caleb FrizI am a 22 year old graduate of the University of Chicago, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Ancient Greek. I have been happily married for 3 and a half years, no kids. I live in Springfield, Oregon where I am currently unemployed. I grew up the son of an evangelical minister but have completely rejected the institution of the church and the existence of God. I consider myself now to be an Atheist with a "spiritual" side. My wife says I'm a pantheist because I love nature so much. I wa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

I hear ya

I agree, all viable candidates that a progressive could enthusiastically and whole-heartedly vote for are gone. A vote for Mike Gravel still isn't out of the question, though, as he and Kucinich agree on 95% of issues.

However, I have to object to your, understandably, defiant attitude. I think that this line-in-the-sand, if-you're-not-with-us-you're-against-us mentality is exactly what has led us to the state we're in today. Liberalism has become a rigid orthodoxy which only claims to value diversity but in reality keeps all views and opinions in lockstep and won't even allow discussion about why those views are right or wrong.

Personally, I'm going to vote for and support Ron Paul because I feel that the issues that matter most are those of foreign and monetary policy, and on these he is right on--bring our troops home, cut military spending, and stop government corporate subsidies which are leading America to fascism. Your depiction of him in your article clearly demonstrates that you haven't looked into him yet, and I encourage you, as a fellow progressive, to give him a chance before you dismiss him.

We're not going to win the victory this year, or next year, or in the next ten years. But resistance is possible. And at each point where resistance is possible we have to exert the maximum amount of pressure possible.

If you're looking for new ideas about how to resist the corporatocracy, try reading Foucault, Adorno, and Marcuse for inspiration. These people have encouraged and enlightened me.

by Caleb Friz (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7:34:59 PM

teacher, poet, musician.......join the growing tsunami: 9/11 TRUTH
CamusRebelteacher, poet, musician.......join the growing tsunami: 9/11 TRUTH

enough ron paul crap already

So, when he gets rid of the income tax....what will be cut? the pentagon? will the CIA be abolished as it rightfully should be? Will the FBI be downsized of all the treasonous traitors Sibel Edmonds has been exposing?

Will that lead to single payer, not-for-profit health care?

Of course not. Any and all welfare will be slashed to exactly ZERO. Sure, thats just fine for some of you, ok, but what about when they dismantle social security. Say they could never do it? You have the audacity to suggest they cant??!! Just as so many were sure that their pensions were rock solid dependable now are lining up at soup kitchens.

RON PAUL IS DANGEROUS AND DELUSIONAL BUT IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO A PROGRESSIVE OR POPULIST.

To those who mourn the loss of our only true warrior for the people, Dennis the Great, our only logical choice now is CYNTHIA McKINNEY.

She is running for President as head of the Green Party. She has bigger balls than Ron, Hillary and Obama. She introduced articles of impeachment years ago. She is fearless. And, she knows what really went down on 9-11 and is not too chicken sh*t to say it.

Yes, our only hope as a country, a species and a planet is PEACEFUL REVOLUTION. Millions of pissed off Americans in the street. Taking back our airwaves should be priority number one. They belong to us. Cynthia can be our rallying point!

by CamusRebel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7:49:45 PM

teacher, poet, musician.......join the growing tsunami: 9/11 TRUTH
CamusRebelteacher, poet, musician.......join the growing tsunami: 9/11 TRUTH

If i hear another brain dead, imagination impaired

red pill eating, happy on their knees in slavery defeatist echo the corporate media brainwashed mantra of VIABLE, ONE MORE TIME I MAY PUNCH U IN THE FACE....I MEAN, UH, UHHH....ASK U PEACEFULLY TO GO STRAIGHT TO HELL.

We the people decide who the fu*k is viable! Not walt friggin disney, not GE, no merchants of death. If we choose to PEACEFULLY take to the streets in every large city by the angry millions and take back CBSABCNBC, then we can have a nice polite national discussion about how to alter or abolisah this fetid pile of rotting diseased carcass we call a government and start from scratch as Tommy J. said we should.

Article V Convention anyone? With all three "networks" owned by us, we can have nightly, in depth, commercial free discussions about how to dismantle capitalism and save our planet.

by CamusRebel (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments) on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 8:00:19 PM