Rocking the Boat: How I'll Vote.

Since turning 18 in 1995, i have been a registered Democrat.  After seeing Ralph Nader speak and following his candidacy in 2000, i increasingly began voting Green Party candidates for the highest offices, yet most of my votes were still to Democratic candidates.  This year for the first time, i will be voting more third party candidates than Democratic.  Two of the four Democrats for whom i'm voting, i only do so because there is no Green or socialist candidate in that particular race.  By the March election i will no longer be a registered Democrat.


I know that the majority of my candidates will not be elected to office, but don't you dare tell me i am throwing my vote away.  My votes for third party candidates are my free speech. They are my message to the status quo that i am tired of the system as is.  So many of you, whether you be Democrats or Republicans are fed up with your government and your candidates as well.  Many of you resort to voting for the "lesser of two evils."  You all need to WAKE UP!!!  There are more than just the "two evils!"  Check out your local or national third party platforms and candidates.  If all the people who are fed up with the status quo voted third party we could really start to see some change in politics and how the government is run.  


The system is broken.  Or should i say, it is "fixed?"  Fixed to keep third party candidates out of the electoral spotlight.  Why do rarely see third party candidates in any debates for office? Because the system is set up that way.  If we heard what they had to say, we might actually be inclined to vote for them--gosh forbid!  Dems and Republicans screen out the embarrassing or troublesome questions from so-called "debates."  Most of the time, these same questions or issues are exactly what the third party candidates want to bring up, although that is not what keeps them from "debates" all the time.  There are also voting thresholds to be reached to be able to participate.  In any case it is well past time to mix things up. 


I live in Venice, Los Angeles, California; here's how i'm voting:


Carlos Alvarez for Governor (Peace and Freedom), 
Gavin Newsom for Lieutenant Governor (Democratic), 
Mary Lou Cabral for Secretary of State (Peace and Freedom), 
Karen Martinez for Controller (Peace and Freedom), 
Charles Crittenden for Treasurer (Green),
Peter Allen for Attorney General (Green),
Dina Josephine Padilla for Insurance Commissioner (Peace and Freedom),
Marsha Feinland for US Senator (Peace and Freedom),
Jane Harman for US Representative, 36th District (Democratic)*,
Jenny Oropeza for State Senator, 28th District (Democratic)*,
Betsy Butler for Member of the State Assembly 52rd District (Democratic)


*only voting Democratic because there is no Green or Peace and Freedom (socialist) candidate.


NO for Ming W. Chin for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
YES for Carlos R. Moreno for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
YES for Judith M. Ashmann for Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five
YES for Orville "Jack" Armstrong for Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Six
YES for Steven Z. Perren for Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five
 
Prop 19 - Yes
Prop 20 - Yes 
Prop 21 - No
Prop 22 - No
Prop 23 - No 
Prop 24 - Yes
Prop 25 - Yes 
Prop 26 - No
Prop 27 - No


Here is a link to Republican , Democratic, Green and Peace and Freedom Party Voting Guides on the California propositions: http://www.schnap.it/doufew