Government & Politics

• You’re desperately supporting the least worst candidate because the other guy is worse. So you lose your bargaining power, and they don’t have to give you the time of day the minute you indicate you’re a least worst voter.”
• The left has lost its nerve and its direction.
• Yes, I’m Voting Third Party. No I’m Not Wasting My Vote.

Eric W. Dolan, Raw Story

If you like reading this article, consider contributing a cafe latte to all-reader supported Evergreene Digest--using the donation button in the above right-hand corner—so we can bring you more just like it.

Monday, March 25, 2013 | Consumer advocate Ralph Nader on Monday decried the lack of choices at the ballot box and predicted super rich candidates would run in 2016.

Speaking on C-SPAN, Nader said the influence of money on the political process along with the weakening of unions had prevented candidates from addressing certain controversial issues. Voting for the lesser of two evils had also allowed candidates to skirt around particular topics.

“As voters, we get too satisfied with least worst choices, so we’ll vote for the Democrats because we think the Republicans are worse, or we’ll vote for the Republicans because we think the Democrats are worse,” he explained. “And every four years both of them get worse, because if you’re a least worst voter you don’t pull the least worst candidate. You’re desperately supporting the least worst candidate because the other guy is worse. So you lose your bargaining power, and they don’t have to give you the time of day the minute you indicate you’re a least worst voter.” 

Full story...

Related:

The left has lost its nerve and its direction, Chris Hedges, Philadelphia Inquirer | PA

If the left wants to regain influence in the nation's political life, it must be willing to walk away from the Democratic Party, even if Barack Obama is the (president), and back progressive, third-party (officials) until the Democrats feel enough heat to adopt our agenda. We must be willing to say no. If not, we become slaves.

Yes, I’m Voting Third Party. No I’m Not Wasting My Vote, Devon DB, Global Research 

• Voting for Obama or Romney and knowing that both of them don’t care about average Americans will only continue pushing the pendulum that is American politics, to either the Republicans or the Democrats, with there being no substantial change in how the system itself works and who is benefits and oppresses.
• The Left Has Lost It's Nerve and Direction
• The Elections Won't Bring Progressive Change, So What Can?
•  

• In numerous interviews with Iraqi and U.S. officials, and though multiple examples of thwarted or defrauded projects, Bowen's report laid bare a trail of waste.
• The abysmal Iraq results forecast what could happen in Afghanistan, where U.S. taxpayers have so far spent $90 billion in reconstruction projects during a 12-year military campaign.
• Government Sequestration Cuts Pale in Comparison to Rampant Fiscal Abuse

Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG) / CBS News

At a time when corporations are buying up elections - not to mention the 24-hour news cycle - help ensure that a source for truly independent journalism lives on. Support all reader supported Evergreene Digest today by using the donation button in the above right-hand corner.  

06 Mar 2013 Ten years and $60 billion in American taxpayer funds later, Iraq is still so unstable and broken that even its leaders question whether U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation were worth the cost. 

In his final report to Congress, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen's conclusion was all too clear: Since the invasion a decade ago this month, the U.S. has spent too much money in Iraq for too few results. 

Full story...

Related:

The abysmal Iraq results forecast what could happen in Afghanistan, where U.S. taxpayers have so far spent $90 billion in reconstruction projects during a 12-year military campaign. Overall, including all military and diplomatic costs and other aid, the U.S. has spent at least $767 billion since the American-led invasion of Iraq, according to the Congressional Budget Office. National Priorities Project, a U.S. research group that analyzes federal data, estimated the cost at $811 billion, noting that some funds are still being spent on ongoing projects. [Right, pretending to 'rebuild' that which the US destroyed. We all know the money -- $150 billion and counting -- went to US corpora-terrorists. Notice that the GOP refuses to spend a dime on US infrastructure but never cuts one cent in foreign 'reconstruction' funds? That's because they know that the only recipients are US corporations. And, these are the same austerity-pimping predators and sociopaths -- having also spent $700 billion to bail out Wall Street -- that are pushing to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.] Source: Citizens for Legitimate Government