[Mb-civic] Today

[Jason Kane]

Hey Everybody,
 
I know that I haven't made much of a secret of my political leanings
lately, but I feel that I have to share what I witnessed this weekend
and how it underlines how important our votes are today.
 
I spent the weekend in Toronto, on a mini-vacation that was much-needed
and well-spent.  In listening to local radio, I was shocked at the level
of free speech allowed on the airwaves.  My two friends and I kept
saying "well, that'd never make it on the air in the States".  Not
because they were shouting the "f-word" or anything, but because we
couldn't imagine a radio station allowing someone to speak out against
the current administration the way these artists were.
 
Our radio and TV stations, as well as the majority of our newspapers,
are under the stranglehold of a handful of companies that cater to
political interest groups and public officials.  Our neighbors up north
enjoy much greater freedom of speech than we do.  Yet President Bush is
constantly saying that we must spread democracy throughout the world.
What kind of democracy allows corporations to dictate content at the
level the US does?  Do we want to perpetuate this across the globe?
 
Eight more soldiers died in Iraq on Saturday.  A Japanese backpacker was
beheaded in Iraq and left in the street, wrapped in an American flag.  I
know that no war is easy, but this was a war we did not need to get
into.  Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, but the man who orchestrated 9/11
is still putting out more videos than Ashlee Simpson.
 
The popular vote is so important in this election.  I think the
questions in the 2000 election stemmed from the fact that the popular
vote was so close.  If you live in New York, or another non-battleground
state, please don't think your vote isn't important.  A clear, decisive
popular vote will make election challenges harder to present this time
around.
 
If you're do live in a battlegournd state, and you're still considering
pulling the lever for Bush, please think about how many times he's
pulled our levers in the past four years.  Bush will not mend our
strained relationships with our allies.  He will not put the working
American ahead of corporate cronies.  I can't think of a single instance
where he has proved otherwise.  Tony Blair's wife has spoken out against
Bush's policies, as has Queen Elizabeth.  A poll in England this weekend
shows that Kerry would defeat Bush in that country by a double-digit
margin.  And this is from our "staunchest ally".
 
You don't have to love John Kerry.  You can even think he looks like
Frankenstein's monster, if you want.  But please don't allow this
President to spend four more years tearing down the goodwill the world
was preparing to show us in a post-9/11 world.  I implore you to cast
your ballot for John Kerry and John Edwards.  We need a "do-ver", and
this is the only way we're going to get it.
 
If you've read this far and you still want to vote for Bush, I respect
that.  Please cast your vote as well.  On Wednesday.  :)
 
Jason
 
 
 
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