Nader’s third party candidacy has
solicited less support and momentum than Ross Perot’s
Independent party of the 90’s. He has only hovered around
3% and 4% since the start of the campaign. However, these numbers
don’t reflect his actual support. Nader has been selling out
packed arenas and stadiums around the country- 25,000 in
Michigan, 20,000 at MSG in New York, 12,000 in Boston and
Portland. In addition, his support in several swing states like
Washington, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Mexico, where the
number of electoral votes could tip the scale in favor of Bush or
Gore, is actually around 10%. His poll ratings among people of
our age group is a high 15%. Why is he so popular? Also,
since his base are independents and left-wing members of the
Democratic party, a vote for Nader may significantly help
Bush in the election. Just as Perot took votes from George Bush ,
there is a real danger that Nader’s candidacy may take votes
away from Gore. The Nader advocates counter this by saying vote
your conscience, just don’t settle, so let’s look at
this…
Largely white, affluent, youth-based, who
tend to swing on the ultra-left side of the political spectrum.
Ralph Nader espouses a progressive, populist
message, and to some, a refreshing diversion from the usual
political rhetoric. However, his critics state that he is only
spouting a rhetoric of a different kind- anti big-business,
anti-corporate, anti- two party system. The Gore people say that
they advocate many of the same issues as Nader, and that
a vote for Gore will also be, in many ways, a vote for Nader..
Sites like voteswap.com, nadertrader.org,
and voterexchange.com advocate a different philosophy- vote
swapping. The idea behind vote swapping is this- there are many
people that want to see Nader reach his goal of 5%, which is the
threshold needed for Nader’s party, The Green Party, to
qualify for federal financing. These people like the idea of a
third party system, and they like Nader’s message. However,
a lot of these same people would have voted for Gore if there
were no Nader to choose from. This is simply because they are
either Democratic, Independent with a liberal slant, or simply
hate George Bush. Thus, there are a whole slew of folks who want
to vote for Nader, but realize that they can’t, because of
the possibility of a Bush win. To ensure that Nader gets his 5%
and that Gore wins, the idea of vote swapping came about. If you
are in a swing state, you vote for Al Gore, and in exchange, a
voter in a sure Bush state, or a Sure Gore State would vote for
Ralph Nader. Swing states are Washington, Oregon, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri,
Arkansas, New Mexico, Tennessee, Illinois, and New Hampshire.
These websites helped automatically set people up from a swing
state, through sorter software, to a person in a sure Gore or
Bush state. The estimate was that if 100,000 people participate
in this, the electoral balance would be tipped toward Gore.
Simple Enough.
However, these are the problems. There is no
guarantee that the other person in the other state will actually
vote as they promised. This tool is also a great idea for
Bush supporters to increase the percentage of Nader supporters to
ensure a Bush win. In addition, there are debates as to whether
or not this is legal. Voteswap2000.com shut down their site
because it had to comply from the California Secretary of State
that brokering an exchange of votes was illegal in the state.
However, the Justice Department said it was cool. And lastly,
there is no doubt that a so-called Sure Bush state or Sure Gore
state is actually that. These things are based on polls, which
should not be the basis for any major move like this.This
election is so close that nothing is sure- NOTHING!
So if you wanna give vote-swapping a try,
check out
Nadertrader.org
Voteswap2000.com
Voteauction.com
Voteexchange2000.com
So Whadaya Do? Here’s few
alternatives….
Hold your vote?
It ‘s your vote, and you have to make
it count. Some websites advocate that on election night, hold you
vote until the state you are voting in has went toward Gore
or Bush, and then cast your vote for Nader. I
Use your Swing State Status?
If you are still undecided, we can help you-
If you are in a swing state, this is important, because your
couple of thousand votes could decide a very close election. It
seems that Nader’s party- which has the goal of getting 5%,
will reach that goal. So if you are in a solid state that has
Gore or Bush leading in the polls- vote Nader, if you are in a
swing state, vote Gore- simple as that.
Find
A VOTE BUDDY?
Using our database, we can help you locate a
voter buddy. By clicking here, and filling out our quick form, we
could place you in contact with someone that may fit your
political interests. So if you are a Gore person and are
interested in why would a Nader person sacrifice the presidency,
and especially a Nader person in a swing state, we can set you
up. Fill out the form and in one hour we will get back to you
with the name of you voter buddy. You can also request up to
three people in other states to share your political interests.
This way, there are no expectations to be kept, you simply can
connect with your political interests at heart. So give it a try.
Fill in your first name or internet handle, email address, state
that you live in, who you’re thinking about voting for, and
what type of person you would want to be set up with. We will get
back to you in one hour.
Or if you’re still undecided, try the CAMPAIGN
MATCH-O-MATIC! IT WILL GIVE YOU A PERSONALIZED ELECTRONIC
READING OF WHO YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ON ELECTION DAY!
CLICK HERE TO LET THE WORLD KNOW YOUR
THOUGHTS ON RALPH NADER? DO YOU THINK THE THIRD PARTY SYSTEM IS
VIABLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE? DO YOU THINK THAT A VOTE FOR RALPH IS
A VOTE FOR GEORGE BUSH? WHAT IS, IN YOUR OPINION, VOTING YOUR
CONSCIENCE, WHEN IT IS APPARENT RALPH NADER WILL NOT WIN, AND
GEORGE BUSH MIGHT? LET US KNOW AND SEE THE MESSAGE POSTED ON THE
SITE.