A Poets View

I just recently received my absentee ballot and booklet for California.  The booklet is like reading through War and Peace with all of it’s measures and propositions.  What struck me while looking at the ballot is that there are four other party tickets listed for President and VP.  One of which is a San Francisco Supervisor.  I never even heard that he, Matt Gonzalez was named as VP choice along with Ralph Nader in the Peace and freedom party.  There’s also the Libertarian, Green and American Independent parties.  Did any of you ever hear who was running on these tickets?  I know I didn’t.  I just think it’s really sad that the elite with money are the top two parties so therefore those are basically our only choices because the others would never win?  I can tell you right now that Matt Gonzalez as VP would be a much better Vice President than Sarah Palin.  I seriously think there should be a cap on campaign spending - a low cap.  I would have loved to hear all of these different nominees during the debates.  It annoys me that we did not have that chance.

Joe Biden was recently in San Francisco speaking at a $5,000 a plate fundraiser in the Seacliff district home of a well known CEO.  He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars at that fundraiser.  They all do this and raise exorbitant amounts of money so that they can remain in the race and I just don’t think it is fair to others who are running and don’t have the powerful and wealthy backers to fund their campaigns.  Not to mention when I heard of Biden’s trip here I thought to myself even if I had that kind of money I don’t think I’d spend $5,000 to hear anyone speak.  Plus, for that kind of money the food better be good and allow me to leave with many doggie bags.  Spending so much money on campaigns and negative ones at that during a recession, when many of us can barely buy food and pay bills is just sickening.  Changes really do need to be made.

As for Palin and her $150,000 shopping spree for her and her family well it’s something she had to do.  I mean she couldn’t very well show up on the campaign trail with camouflage sweats and a hunting rifle now could she?  Little sarcasm there.  Joy Behar of the view said it best “before she was shooting her clothes, now she can buy them.”