majoritarianism

[Dan Scanlan <dscanlan@xxxxxxx>]

Title: majoritarianism

The majority of Americans now recognize that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. Many of us, including retired military and intelligence officials, knew from the beginning that the build-up to war was based on fabrications and deception. Of the millions of protestors in America and worldwide, our government heeded no one. Our mainstream media reported only of 'inevitability.' John Kerry claims he was 'misled.' So why is he committed to sending more troops 'to die for a mistake?' George W. Bush continues to claim we are liberators, while the great majority of Iraqi people want the US government's occupation ended so they can get their country back.

Mainstream media avoids centering on the question of how to responsibly withdraw from Iraq as an important issue in this election. The major parties do their best to remind voters that they are the stronger of the two on defense. Sadly, our invasion and ongoing military and corporate occupation of Iraq remains too obviously counterproductive. The presence of American troops and corporate contractors has only been a magnet for stateless terrorists to recruit and continue expanding while peaceful solutions are ignored.

Both parties have worked hard to superficially implant the idea into the minds of all Americans that "we can't just pull out now." Talk of corporate occupation of Iraq is avoided as much as corporate occupation in Washington, DC is accepted as "just the way it is." How do we stop this endless cycle of corporate-sponsored mayhem and exploitation? How do we temper the corruption and deceit? We start by expecting everyone we meet to admit to the realities of the Iraq quagmire and by asking that every voter be similarly unrelenting when it comes to vigilance, peace, justice, and equality-the fundamental pillars of our national security over the long run. When we commit to doing so, the only choice in this election will be Nader/Camejo.

Voting Nader/Camejo places you within the ranks of those who are authentically dedicated to the implementation of a safe and responsible resolution to the quagmire in Iraq. If the rest of voting America were similarly disposed, Ralph Nader would become President-elect on November 2nd.

Theresa Amato