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Organizing The Vote

By Gregory Ross

I plan on voting for President Obama, again. Everyone I know, who plans on voting, is voting for President Obama, again. Everyone, being those I know in California, specifically, Oakland, and the Greater Bay Area. But, back East, were I lived my first twenty years, my sisters, in Georgia and New York, have made it clear that they will not be voting for President Obama, again. I do not plan on trying to change their minds. Nor they me, since they view me as a lost cause, a misguided resident of a present day Sodom and Gomorrah. They are Christian enough to pray for my soul, though.

I am not voting for President Obama because I think he is our salvation, nor because he and a Democratic Congress are going to save the poor, the middle class, the 99%. I am voting for President Obama because I view him as the lesser of two evils. I am voting for President Obama because I believe he might "trickle down" to the poor, the middle class, the 99%. (Aside: when I hear that phrase, "trickle down" all I can think of is "pissed on"). I am not voting for President Obama because I believe he will end the wars or end the faceless killing via drones. Nor do I believe he will rescind the right of the President to designate assassinations or to hold a person in prison for a life time because of the suspicion of terrorism.

I am voting for President Obama in spite of the fact that the wealth of the 1% increased by almost 8% in the last four years; while the 99% has been made poorer (a Pew Institute study). I am voting for President Obama out of abject terror of what a Romney presidency would be like. I am voting for President Obama, the Lesser Evil, out of fear of the Greater Evil. I am voting for President Obama because we do not truly have a Democracy under a two party system. Both parties are bought and paid for by corporations. (Aside: favorite bumper sticker: "I will believe a corporation is a person when Texas executes one").

I have supported Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich and Medea Benjamin in their bids for high office with money but, never voted for one of them. Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate affiliated with one of the two party system's parties. But, because his message was threatening to the Corporations, he couldn't remain in the race. He might have had my vote, if I had a chance to vote for him. Recently, I read about Ross "Rocky" Anderson, a two-time mayor of Salt Lake City (2000 to 2008) who spoke out against the Invasion of Iraq and was the only mayor to call for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and V. P. Cheney. He left the Democratic Party, with a public criticism calling it "unprincipled...bought and paid for by the same interests that have bought and paid for the Republican Party." He has also announced his candidacy for president in the newly formed Justice Party.

I like what he has to say. I like his history. I like the stands he has taken. I would vote for him but, I am too much of a coward. I have lost the courage I had when I was nine years old and finally, stood up to the school bully. A stance I did not take when I was nineteen and my draft notice arrived. I could have gone to Canada, gone to jail, demanded to be a Conscientious Objector but, instead managed to get myself into the Navy with the mistaken idea that this would keep me out of the Vietnam War.

In four years, I will be sixty-nine. Perhaps, then I will have mustered enough courage to forgo the "Lesser of Two Evils" mentality and vote for someone I believe is not bought and paid for. And, if by some miracle he or she was to win, hope that I was right about the "Not bought and paid for." And, more cynically, hope there is no convenient assassination.

PS: After reading this to my wife, she said, "You are so optimistic. If Romney succeeds in buying the Presidency, what makes you think there will be elections in four years." That is something I love about her, something that has made it possible for us to remain together for thirty seven years, she can often out cynical me.

Don't forget to vote!

Gregory Ross was in the Navy, the Gun Line off coast of Vietnam with the 7th Fleet [1968-69]. Graduate of a VA drug, alcohol and PTSD program [1980]; Acupuncturist, Detox specialty [since 1989], laid off [2011], published in "Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace." Feedback: gandgandg@yahoo.com