My litmus test

[sophiaserpentia]

I will only support a candidate for President if he or she states clearly that we cannot exchange true freedom for the ersatz appearance of "security."

That means that he or she also promises:

to upgrade the status of prisoners at Guantanamo (to at least grant them access to attorneys and some semblance of due process, if not full Geneva-convention-protected "POW" status),

and to end the practice of secret arrests in the United States, reveal who was arrested and when, and end all covert surveilance that would have been forbidden by the FBI's rules prior to the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Further, I will only support a candidate for President if he or she promises to end imperialism and war-profiteering in the Middle East.

Comments

[ericisalive.livejournal.com]

Probably going to have to look to third party candidates to find that, perhaps libertarian ...

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I don't relish the prospect of voting Libertarian, but if they're the only party that supports my position, so be it. I'm hoping the Greens come through for me...

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

Democrats haved someone running who supports all that and more. Just aren't likey to name him as the official candidate.

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

Why not libertarian?

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I'm not a Libertarian, though I agree with many of their views on personal privacy.

I'll give one example as to why I am not Libertarian. Being married to someone who is disabled made me sensitive to the issue of disabled rights. A Libertarian administration would never have signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which I consider a crucial civil rights act. Furthermore, Libertarians would dismantle SSI benefits for disabled children or people who are so disabled they can't work, forcing parents to burden backbreaking medical bills on their own, and forcing severely disabled adults to rely on charity for their survival.

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

A government handout is not charity?

[winegodeatsyou.livejournal.com]

It doesn't have obvious ideological strings attached to it.
I will say why I left the libertarian party . . . it's ideological view of the mythical "private sector" seems to think that private tynarry is okay because it is not done with public money.

That said, I voted Reform and Libertarian in the 2000 elections. Why? Because their attitudes would cut budgets and their ideological high-ground would be QUICKLY eroded by actually having political power.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I go farther than you. FULL Geneva convention POW status for ALL people detained at Guantanamo, and everywhere else. With full inspections by Red Cross and Amnesty International.

The candidate must vow to end the Patriot act in total.

The Candidate must vow to end the drug war. I will accept a nomination of Hunter Thompson as Drug Czar as an interim solution.

The candidate must vow to prosecute all war criminals -- be they CIA, military, congress people, or private industry.

[gramina.livejournal.com]

I sympathize; but I'll tell you, I'm not voting for anyone for president that I don't think can defeat W. Only once in my life have I actually voted *for* a candidate, and I don't expect to do it this time either; but I would vote for my eleven-year-old toothless *cat* before I'd let W. keep that office. I even plan to work for candidates I don't really *like* that much just because I think that it's that important to get the current lot Out Of There.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I wish I could have the same optimism that Kerry would be any better on these issues. I'm far from convinced of that.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

A government handout is not dependent on religious ties or acceptance of a particular ideology. It's not dependent on being the first one in line before the resources run out.

Secondly, there are matters like this where I believe solutions are best and strongest when they draw upon the collective resources of all of us.

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I understand your position now and I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me.

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

La is too close. I'll probably vote Kerry then puke about it later.

It would be different if I lived in somewhere that was pretty much already decided.