With the 2008 elections just around the corner, I've been watching the candidates dwindle down. If you work in a place like mine, you'd swear there were only two candidates left (Clinton and Obama). However, if you look at the two primary parties, you'll find that there are still 7 total candidates (including Alan Keyes, who even I seem to have missed; ironically, he's also black, but for some strange reason hasn't gotten near the media attention Obama has). There are, however, about 30 other candidates (if not more) currently running for president. Some female, some black, some black females. Why don't they make the news?
America has become essentially bipartisan - you're either Dem or GOP - and it's really starting to hurt us as a nation. Even with 7 main candidates, most of them are nearly identical. What's that leave us with, then? Well, either we can draw straws for the candidates that are left, flip a coin for the two that will be left when the Dems and GOP make their nominations, or we can vote for someone else entirely.
Constitutional Law Professor Mark Brown has chosen option number three and has been very vocal around here about the importance of choosing third party candidates and breaking the trend of bipartisanship. What makes him stand out even more, at least to me, is that he's one voice speaking out among the many Obama fans not only here at the school, but also in the city. From the looks of the bumper stickers and lawn signs, it appears Obama has pretty much won at least Ohio's capital. For those, like me, who haven't made a concrete decision, this makes Brown's message that much more important.
These third party candidates could mean the difference between the pseudo-change we've been seeing, and the real change this country has needed for decades, even if they don't make the presidency. There are other options, so if you don't completely agree with what even your current favored candidate has to say, you can vote for someone else. Don't think it will make a difference? Your vote going to a Libertarian, or Green, or even Socialist means it's not going to either the Democrats or the Republicans.
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