Ballot offers alternatives to McCain, Obama

I think we’ve now reached the point in this presidential election when we’re all just pretty much ready for the whole thing to be over. Maybe you know who you’re going to vote for; maybe you don’t. Either way, campaign fatigue has set in, big-time.

It’s usually about this time that a lot of folks become more or less fed up with both major candidates. When it comes down to it, for many people, neither one really embodies the ideas we have for what we want our president to stand for.

But one of the great secrets of the presidential campaign is that John McCain and Barack Obama are not the only people running for president. Across the country, dozens of people will appear on various state ballots. They are what are referred to as “third party” candidates. None of them really have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning on Nov. 4, but for those looking for a candidate they can vote for without having to hold their nose, these longshots offer a potential alternative.

In Arkansas, there will be seven presidential candidates on the ballot Nov. 4. Excepting Obama and McCain, whom we’ve all heard enough about, here are the other presidential candidates Arkansans have to choose from, along with their party, and what their party stands for:

— Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party. The Constitution Party advocates a platform which aims to reflect the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. Baldwin, founder-pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., strongly opposes the "New World Order," the United Nations, U.S. income taxes, the Patriot Act, and assaults on individual liberties in general. He would withdraw troops from Iraq and end illegal immigration. Emphasizing America's Christian heritage, he strongly supports the gold standard, the right to keep and bear arms, homeschooling, and pro-life legislation such as the Sanctity of Life Act. Baldwin also hosts a daily one-hour radio program, "Chuck Baldwin Live," and writes a daily editorial column. For more, see www.baldwin08.com/

— Gloria La Riva, Party for Socialism and Liberation. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a Marxist party in the United States founded to promote revolutionary change. The PSL is very active in the antiwar movement and has taken a lead organizing role in mass antiwar demonstrations since 2001. It supports the government of Cuba, but is critical of the government of China. La Riva has been the director of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, and has been president of the typographical sector of the Northern California Media Workers Union. She also translated Fidel Castro's book “Cuba at the Crossroads” and produced the documentary videos “NATO Targets,” “Workers' Democracy in Cuba,” “Genocide by Sanctions: The Case of Iraq” and “Let Iraq Live!” For more, see www.votepsl.org

— Ralph Nader, Independent. This is Nader’s fifth campaign for the presidency, having also run in each of the previous four elections. Though an independent in Arkansas and other states, Nader is running on the Independent-Ecology and the Peace and Freedom tickets elsewhere. Nader is known for his commitment to issues such consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. For more, see www.votenader.org

— Bob Barr, Libertarian Party. Libertarians stand for laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration across borders, and non-interventionism in foreign policy that respects freedom of trade and travel to all foreign countries. The party stands for freedom of speech, freedom of association and sexual freedom. The party seeks to abolish laws against "victimless crimes" (such as prostitution, driving without a seat belt and use of some controlled substances.) A former Republican, Barr portrays himself as an alternate for conservatives to Republican nominee John McCain. He emphasizes his opposition to the Republican Party for its positions on the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act, but stands as an advocate for border security and fiscal constraint. For more, see www.bobbarr2008.com

— Cynthia McKinney, Green Party. The Green Party of the United States emphasizes environmentalism, non-hierarchical participatory democracy, social justice, respect for diversity, peace and nonviolence. McKinney supports statehood for the District of Columbia, slavery reparations, electoral reforms including instant runoff voting, and calls for abolishing the death penalty and the War on Drugs. For more, see votetruth08.com

If nothing else, these candidates demonstrate that the marketplace of ideas remains robust in America. And you may not see anyone listed here that you like, but you at least ought to know that these candidates are out there.

Some folks have a hard time voting for a third party candidate. The cynics like to say voting third-party amounts to “throwing your vote away.” And there might be some truth to that.

But for some voters, casting a vote on Election Day is about more than picking a good-looking horse. It’s about partaking in a sacred civic duty and wanting to still be able to look at yourself in the mirror the next day. It’s about voting for something you really believe in.

Is there anyone on this list worth believing in? Maybe, maybe not. But surely there’s at least one or two candidates worth a closer look.