First off, I am a big fan of Michael Moore^*. Really big fan. And even though I haven't seen Roger and Me, or even many episodes of The Awful Truth, I respect the guy's opinions. Except when he asks us to vote for Ralph Nader (I say us because I am one of those he addressed in his recent letter on the election). Why? Well, because even if we assume that the 100 million non-voters like me (and, most likely, you) get off our collective ass and Vote Green, nothing will change.

You ask me, "Why?"

Simple. Ralph Nader and the Green Party have no appreciable power base in this country, not among the people and certainly not among the 535 members of Congress.

The government isn't just one man. It's that one man and the Congress (and, to some degree, the Federal Courts). Nader alone against that kind of entrenched power isn't going to be able to do much, if anything at all, to effect real change in this nation. Even if he draws out the more left leaning Democrats to his side (and assuming he has the support of indepenent Representative Bernard Sanders), he won't have much support in the remaining, say, 515 members of the House and Senate.

The problem with third party politics is that it fails to recognize two important things. First, the main bulk of real political power and potential is at the bottom of the heap. In local elections. Look at San Diego, where the local government has gone against the Fed and passed Cost of Living Allowance resolutions. Look at other progressive cities and towns (and no, they aren't all near The Republic of Berkeley, or even in California for that matter). Do a quick google search to find out how many American townships have banned Wal-Mart from even coming into town for a feasibility study. That's local power.

Second, power on a state or national level is made by this power on the local level. If it weren't, then even Dubya and Al Gore would have problems. But they don't. They have a nationwide coalition of local and state party leaders getting the word out.

So, even if I could support Nader (I am worried about the info at www.realchange.org, it's disturbing stuff) - I don't know if I could go out and vote for him.

Looks like another election year with no hope for the future.