Later this week... 10 Best Congresspeople: Dennis Kucinich

Stay tuned for my second entry of 10 Worst, 10 Best: Your United States Congress. This time: Representative Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland, Ohio. Will be up by Thursday.

Also, I've just created a Facebook Page that anyone can 'fan' to receive updates on your NewsFeed. I promise, the updates will not dominate your wall!

Wondering Where Your Democracy Went?

When President Reagan gave his famous "City on a Hill" speech, he declared the United States the pinnacle of civilization--the city...on the hill. But when John Winthrop said those words he was talking about an America that ought to be. Not that is. Perhaps it is too hasty to assume that we have reached this ideal.

To the wide-eyed masses: you did not choose Barack Obama as president. To those who believe in the potential of liberty and democracy: your country has forsaken its highest ideals. In an age where the issues are not discussed and the candidates are interchangeable photogenics, you must question what it is you should be doing here. In this country. As a citizen.

In the election of 2008, this facade went on before our very eyes. Ron Paul raised over $6 million in a single day--the most of any candidate; he had millions of supporters and was leading a sort of movement. But he was, for some reason excluded from the later and more important debates. This was the sole Republican with truly unique views--and more conservative ones at that. He suggested to the people that U.S. imperialism is the cause of the terror--not our values and "freedom." Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat, ran on a platform of peace. Mike Gravel ran to end U.S. militarization and establish a direct democracy. All were left out of the later debates.


Perhaps these candidates simply did not register enough votes in the early primaries, and were rightfully asked not to return. Maybe the media did its job. For the people. But then you look at who we ended up with. Hillary vs. Obama--two candidates with identical policy platforms. Debating. What I am saying is that maybe, just maybe there is something larger at work. Not a conspiracy, but a system rather. A system that has developed over the years and fuels a sham of a democracy. Corporate media, corporate candidates. There are powerful interests at stake and a lot of profits to be made. Be wary.

"The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return." - Gore Vidal

My Letter to the Chairman of the DNC

Well I just wrote a letter that I plan to send to Governor Howard Dean—Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The document essentially explains itself, but I encourage anyone interested to read into the matters I go over, and to delve deeper into the unraveling of our democracy. Check it out:


Dear Governor Dean,

I am an 18-year-old freshman at Denison University in Ohio, and have been following the latest presidential campaign very closely. I've had a particular attraction to the messages of both Senator Gravel and Congressman Kucinich—men who, despite their controversial nature, are proven leaders and patriots. By this time you must have learned of the historical acts by Mike Gravel (filibustering the Draft, releasing the Pentagon Papers, the Alaskan pipeline bill, etc), and of Dennis Kucinich's unwavering message of peace that permeates through his legislation in Congress. I am severely alarmed because both of these American leaders have been silenced by corporate media and alienated by their own Democratic Party—this suggests to me that these bodies of mega-power have lost sight of the freedom and democracy that this country is supposed to stand for.

In previous debates, Senator Gravel met the same polling qualifications as other candidates, but did not have enough money to be included. The indication here is that if you are not a millionaire, you cannot have a shot at the presidency. The loyalty oath imposed on Congressman Kucinich by the Texas Democratic Party was a clear violation of the First Amendment—this instance, as well as his exclusion from the latest televised debate on MSNBC have yet to be addressed by you, Governor. Don’t the American people deserve to hear their unique and important views? Where was the voice of Democratic leadership? Where was democracy?

Whether or not these men align with Party doctrine should not be a factor in evaluating them as viable candidates. The American public has the right to hear their messages—to witness them questioning the policies of the leading candidates. For democracy to succeed, there must be a true debate—after watching the last Democratic debate, I can see that this is not happening. When leading candidates seem to agree on almost every major issue, it becomes obvious that something has gone terribly wrong.

For how long can we put on the facade of the “greatest democracy in the world" when our leaders are carefully selected by elitist Wall Street boardrooms and two political parties? This path of corporate censorship and political corruption will only grow worse if left unaddressed. Ultimately it will be up to the people to decide whether or not they wish to survive as a democratic nation, but without the leadership, that will never happen.

It is with great moral conviction and severe urgency that I write this letter. Please consider this cry for help.

Sincerely,
Skye Wallin

If anyone would like to express their own views on this matter, or on any other issue you can send a quick message to the DNC Chair at this link.