Third party candidates for president generally don’t get much publicity and most of the time don’t get enough votes to make a difference in a presidential election. But advancing a cause is reason enough for one third party candidate to run.
Peta Lindsay is the candidate of the Party of Socialism and Liberation. She’s on the ballot in 13 states, including New York, and says getting on the ballot has been one of the most difficult parts of running for president. Rules vary from state to state, but he party was able to get the 30,000 signatures needed in order to get on the ballot in New York State.
“The two-party system is a rigged game. It’s rigged against working people. It’s just another way for the one percent to exercise their power over the rest of us,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay stopped to visit with party members and speak to some Syracuse University classes earlier this month, saying her party is an activist party that basically stands for workers.
“The wealth of this country was created by the working people of this country so we believe that wealth should be used to provide the things those working people need,” she said.
It’s her belief that the time is right for Marxist values to help the workers in this country. The party has a ten-point plan that would do things like make a job, health care, housing and education a constitutional right. It also calls for an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan as well as full rights for immigrants.
Lindsay is also campaigning for education to be paid for by the state from pre-kingergarten through college.
“We are calling for the immediate cancelation of all student loan debt,” she said. “It’s ridiculous to think that people are chained to this massive debt for a lifetime for the privilege of getting an education. There are plenty of countries around the world that provide education to their people. The U.S. is the richest country in the world there is no reason we shouldn’t provide education for all.”
Lindsay has no illusions about massing large numbers of votes.
“We’re concerned with November 6th, but also November 7th and building the movement after that.”
By the way, even if she won, she’s only 28 years old, and according to the constitution, the president has to be 35.
