I always knew the day would come when I would have to show the responsibility to pick a candidate for President of the United States of America and the time has finally come on the heels of the second anniversary of the founding of this publication.
Most citizens in this nation are basically zombies of the two-party system. We look at the Republican and Democratic candidates but no further, as if there is some force field that prevents our minds from exploring the possibility that someone else might possibly be presenting a better idea to solve the problems that both of those political parties have buried us in up to our eyeballs, like some huge quicksand pit.
We become hypnotized into thinking that we must choose the lesser of two evils. My mind has never worked that way, so therefore, my endorsement for President and Vice President have nothing to do with this ridiculous argument about who will and will not win but rather who has 100% of all the right answers to correct every single problem that plagues our country, regardless of political advertisements and other endorsements by LGBT publications, purported leadership organizations and miniscule gains made on behalf of the LGBT community by one of the candidates.
That was yesterday. What will you do for us tomorrow?
Beyond any and all shadow of a doubt and for every reason from the LGBT community, to the subjects of foreign policy, the economy, the jobs question, healthcare, education and all domestic policy, candidate Peta Lindsay for President and Yari Osorio of the Party for Socialism and Liberation leave every other candidate in the dust.
Peta Lindsay stands for full equality for the LGBT community, whereas Barack Obama only stands for repealing DOMA with no further promise beyond that for the LGBT community, effectively throwing us into a time machine and taking us back to 1996.
Originally, I was going to run an interview of both these candidates but after careful consideration, I found that a considered endorsement of their candidacy would serve the purpose much better.
Both Ms. Lindsay and Mr. Osorio are well educated and well-spoken about all issues and competent candidates. This is where they weigh-in on the issues:
1. Make a job a Constitutional right
Tens of millions are jobless and under-employed because the capitalists control employment. A decent paying job must be a legal, guaranteed right. The minimum wage should be raised to $20 per hour and a living income must be guaranteed for those who cannot work.
2. Make free health care, free education and affordable housing Constitutional rights
These are essentials of life and should not be run for-profit. Create a completely free and public health care system. Make education free—cancel all student debt. Stop all foreclosures and evictions – end all mortgage interest payments to the banks
3. Shut down all U.S. military bases around the world—bring all the troops, planes & ships home
U.S. foreign policy uses the pretext of national security to enforce the imperialist interests of the biggest banks and corporations. That’s what is behind the endless wars and occupations. Use the $1 trillion military budget instead to provide for people’s needs here and around the world. Stop U.S. aid to Israel. End the blockade of Cuba.
4. Stop racist police brutality and mass incarceration
More than three million people are behind bars in the largest prison complex in the world. Mass incarceration of our youth is the real crime. End the mass incarceration of oppressed communities. Fully prosecute all acts of police brutality and violence.
5. Defend our unions
Support the right of all workers to have a union. Fight back against the attacks on collective bargaining. Pass the Employee Free Choice Act and repeal the Taft-Hartley Act. In the spirit of Wisconsin, rebuild a fighting—and striking—labor movement.
6. Equality for women and free, safe, legal abortion on demand
Stop the attack on women’s reproductive rights and defend Roe v. Wade. Women must have the fundamental right to choose and control their own bodies. Women still earn 22 percent less than men, and the gap is even more severe for Black and Latina women. Close the wage gap and end the gender division of labor.
7. Full rights for all immigrants
Abolish all anti-immigrant laws. Stop the raids and deportations. The government’s war on immigrants must end. The border wall must be dismantled.
8. Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
Make same-sex marriage a federal right—keep the movement in the streets. Fight anti-LGBT discrimination and violence.
9. Save the planet—End capitalism
We need a central economic plan to significantly cut greenhouse gases, clean up the environment and build a massive renewable energy network. The for-profit economic system creates incentives to pollute. No fracking, no Keystone pipeline!
10. Seize the banks—Jail Wall Street criminals
The banks’ vast wealth came from the people’s labor and tax-dollar bailout. Capitalist banking is a form of organized crime, rewarding greed and fraud with obscene bonuses. These billionaires looted and destroyed the economy. It is time to seize their assets and use those resources in the interests of the vast majority. Power must be taken out of the hands of the super-rich, and the Wall Street criminals must be held accountable.
In the long and short of this endorsement, we need a radically different path for our nation or we will cease to be anything but a third world country. We’re already well on our way and the polls are climbing for Mitt Romney, which will drive the poverty level up in our country so that in four short years no one will recognize this nation we live. We might as well move out and let the rich folks have it. Maybe find a sizeable, unclaimed island in the middle of the Pacific and form our own nation or move to Canada as political refugees.
The degree and number of people who say, “voting for someone other than Obama is voting for Romney”, has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! If everyone who votes for a candidate who meets 100% of what you believe in then that candidate would win!
How would that be wrong or voting for Romney if the right candidate wins?
