Let's stop referring to this situation as being the lesser of two evils; let's say that in these upcoming elections we will need to make a choice and vote for that presidential candidate and that political party which gives America its best hope for the future; which one has the greater potential for finally listening to the peoples' needs and concerns and can, somehow, find the ways to stabilize this nation by addressing and solving its most critical problems.
Let's be clear on one important point. Democrats in Congress are far from perfect; they are, in fact, often weak and indecisive; they could use a series of powerful injections to give them more courage, conviction and strength. In contrast we might say that Republicans already have great strength, courage and conviction -- the only problem is that it supports a twisted ideology that, if allowed to spread through this nation, will destroy our democracy. So, what Republicans need is a series of injections of ethics, integrity and morality.
This country stands at a critical crossroads and it must choose one road or another; sure we can show our disgust by refusing to vote or we can cast a vote for a third party candidate who has no hope of winning. But if we make the wrong choice and take the wrong road, this country is going to go down for the count. If anyone thinks that this president and this Democratic Party have failed to live up to the full expectations of the American people they are entirely correct. But if these same people are willing to let Mitt Romney and the demented Republican Party take full control of this country, then they just might be going from the frying pan into a boiling cauldron for this is a political party that no longer represents the American people and has sold its soul to the money, power and influence of Corporate America.
There is one person in the U.S. Congress that I trust above all others, one that I believe is trying hard to do what is best for America and its people. That person is Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont. He doesn't hold back his criticisms of the president and the Democratic Party but one thing that has become very clear; his positions on numerous issues are far more in line with the Democrats than they are with the Republicans. Is there anyone who would dare to include him in the blanket statement that he and the Democrats and the Republicans are all exactly the same?
Sometime in the not too distant future we are going to have to see the emergence of a new breed of patriotic Americans who have the courage and conviction to enter this political process and represent the American people in a competent, ethical, and moral way; that might happen with the emergence of a strong third party or, perhaps, with the progressive movement taking over control of the Democratic Party. But that time is not now. America has its back against the wall and is in great danger. There is very little time left before these elections and we all better think long and very deeply about what we are going to do when that time comes.
So, in closing, I suggest that every person who reads this article and then still feels that, on the specific issues listed above, that the two parties are exactly the same, or are even remotely close in their respective positions, to back up their contention with clear, indisputable facts and evidence. And let the debate begin.
Michael Payne
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