Public Comment

Despite Hillary being a long political distance away from my ideal candidate, Trump is even much further away. But what troubles me about the discussions and debates about the presidential candidates, the discourse is mainly guided as it often is by the politics of fear. We support a candidate not because of our enthusiasm but mainly to avoid the serious risk of electing the alternative. 

Of course I understand, as you all do, why we are forced into this dreary position. It is a winner takes all in our two party political system. But I really don't like it. Our vote is not based on a politics of hope. Is there any way out of this dilemma? Yes, I think there is, at least in California. We live in a state where the voters vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party presidential candidate.  

Obama won the presidency in California by several million more votes in both 2008 and 2012. In 2004, when he Democratic Party candidate John Kerry lost the presidential against his Republican contender, George Bush, Kerry nevertheless swept California with almost a 10 percent lead (54.3% to 44.4%). If in the unlikely event the odds change for the upcoming November election, the polls will tell us beforehand. We can vote for a third party candidate, then, without jeopardizing the chances of the Democratic Party nominee. 

Since the candidate of a third party will definitely lose, why bother? The reason is that it sends a signal to the establishment that we are not happy with how things are, and we are letting the Democrats know they don't always have us in their pocket. Since the Democratic Party leadership assumes that it can most likely count on our vote, we have little if any leverage. 

I recently attended a Green Party rally at the main Berkeley post office because I wanted to hear what its presidential nominee Jill Stein had to say. I was impressed with the progressive program she advocated and especially that she urged us to vote for and support Bernie Sanders in the California Democratic Party primary. That Bernie is running as a Democrat rather than as a Green party candidate was not a stumbling block for her. 

I think those who work within the Democratic Party have something to learn from Jill Stein. Since no risk is involved in voting for the Green Party candidate, I think it would be healthy and wise that we vote for someone who represents our progressive perspective rather than voting for a compromise candidate. The Green Party's platform is essentially the same as Bernie's. There is nothing vital in its platform that any progressive would object to. So why not take a break from the politics of fear and instead vote our principles! It would be good politics and psychologically liberating.