Election Time

Over the weekend I received my election ballot sample showing all of who was running for each office.  Here I thought there was only two really running for President, maybe three but didn’t Nader concede already.  Guess what I was totally wrong…and so are probably the majority of Americans.

We constantly here about the two political parties, Democrat and Republican, and how all our elections are decided between the two.  Though an independent might slip through now and then.  Guess what according to my states ballot there are officially 5 political parties with presidential candidates and one independent. Now I know what you’re thinking I must live in one of those states that have a history of being easily swayed or even placed on the ballot with just a wink and a nudge from an old family friend.  Nope I’m living in a blue flows from the pores state of Maryland, since 1852 a republican candidate has only won the state 12 times.

That being so we still have official parties promoting their candidates on our ballot.  My question is why is this the first I’ve heard of most of them.  I watched the debates….maybe not the whole thing….but I caught as much as I could stomach, no mention there.  I watch the news and Sunday shows..must have slept in that day or went to bed to early…not seen there.

In the age of technology when information can be found at a click why weren’t us voters notified by our trusted or even not so trusted news sources.  Those in the main stream once again completely ignores who they see as being sacrifical lambs, not because of actual do diligence on their part, but because they have  chosen who they want us to see.  They don’t even give us the courtesy of a notation about these other candidates.

Yes I know that voting for these candidates are just throwing your vote away when you run the numbers, but what if they were acknowledged by the media? What if we knew the names and faces of these candidates before seeing them on our ballots when we step into our voting booths.  Could Americans truly have more choices then the have been told, could these other candidates have some ideas or information that could help us make a stronger and studier USA for ourselves and our children.  These questions can’t and won’t be answered as long as we keep accepting the media for our source of information.

That just flies in the face of logic but I think the time has come to acknowledge that our news is no more “news” then those entertainment shows we sometimes watch, but never admit to.  News agencies now worry more about ratings then what their watchers need to know.  How many of us had seen terrible crimes committed in other counties, states, or even countries run on our “local” news, while good stories about people out there working to improve something or even problems that could be solved easily if enough people knew about it, don’t.  They don’t get the blood boiling and heart racing but, they do connect a person to their community.  Connecting is what makes a community…without it we are a bunch of people living in boxes, driving in boxes, and placed in boxes by the strangers we call neighbors.

So honestly I think it’s time we stood up and said “Hey I’m an adult and want the respect to be treated as one!”  In other words stop sugar coating the facts that aren’t pleasant and stop sensationalizing violence and crime so they look like something Hollywood made up.   We are too complacent and it’s costing not only us, but our children and if we’re not careful their children more then freedom…it’s costing them the knowledge of what freedom is at all.

So for those candidates I didn’t know where running I felt it only fair to at lest post them here.  If you want to look them and their parties up Great! but that is your decision.  I’m not going to shove any agenda down anyone’s throat…even if I agree with it.  Your probably an adult if you’re reading my boring musings so I’m going to let you be one and decide for yourself.

For the Green Party:

• Cynthia McKinney (California) - President
• Rosa Clemente (North Carolina) - Vice President

For the Libertarian Party

• Bob Barr (Georgia) - President
• Wayne A. Root (Nevada) - Vice President

As Independents

• Ralph Nader (Connecticut)- President
• Matt Gonzalez (California) - Vice President

For the Constitution Party

• Chuck Baldwin (Florida) - President
• Darrell L. Castle (Tennessee) - Vice President

These are in no particular order except that I read them off my states ballot that way.  I know that I did not include the two most widely known.  If by now you don’t know Senator Barrack Obama and Senator John McCain names then you need more help figuring out your vote for next Tuesday then I can help you with.

Yes I know I didn’t link to any of these canidates or parties as I know you have a google/MSn/Yahoo/? bar right at the top of your screen and you can search them as much as you like.