10/21/04
I'd like to reply to Pat Leary's response to my Oct. 1 letter, where I urged people not to vote for the lesser of two evils but to consider voting for one of the other presidential candidates -- Cobb, Nader or Badnarik.
Unfortunately, Mr. Cobb's hard-working activists couldn't quite make it through the New York political power elite's unethical ballot access gauntlet, and he will not be allowed on the ballot here.
Ms. Leary missed my tongue in cheek comment. It couldn't be more obvious that the vast majority of the Bush haters are for Kerry.
In the emotion and haste with which many are rightfully responding to Bush's disgraceful record, they are missing, or perhaps setting aside, the gross similarities between the two incumbent parties. Spin it as you may, Kerry's 20-year record of constitutional and fiscal irresponsibility in the Senate is as abysmal as Bush's over the last four years.
Fine-tuning between the Democrats and Republicans is not what is required nationally or locally. After the election, we'll still be controlled, regulated and taxed at unprecedented levels by Democrats and Republicans. We'll still have a rapidly growing government, taking away our liberties and redistributing our income.
Vote for the candidate of your choice. No one owns your vote and no vote is wasted. It is yours. There are no spoilers and there is no vote dilution, only the winner of your vote. I am a Libertarian and I will proudly cast my vote for Michael Badnarik.
Brian Sullivan
City of Ithaca
http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20041021/opinion/1449634.html
