During their campaign rallies, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Bush routinely ignore the candidacy of Ralph Nader for president in 2004, choosing only to attack each other. This should be of little surprise. After all, Mr. Nader is untouchable whether it be on the issues or on his integrity, so all Bush or Kerry can do is to claim they are who America would rather vote for.

I suppose I should take a few minutes to analyze this situation, because many liberal voters want "Anybody But Bush" right now, and what a surprise, this anybody turns out to be a Democrat! For one thing, it is hilarious that people think that President Bush is as bad as they come. And secondly, what kind of democracy are we when we let two political parties control everything to the point where someone like Bush gets into office in the first place?

Student Democrats, I'd like you to consider this; if Gore were in office today, and Bush were running against him...would you be too afraid of Bush getting into office and avoid voting for a 3rd party? Of course you would. You would be scared to death! What a great system we have here...where you can never feel comfortable voting your heart.

Many liberals are against Ralph Nader, especially those who are part of the "liberal intelligentsia," such as the editors of the weekly magazine The Nation (see issues from Feb 16 & Mar 8). Many liberals are still apologists to the Democratic Party, allowing for further corporate take-over of Washington. Few are up to the challenge, but we are still seven months away and there are 100 million non-voters and nearly 100 million more who don't truly know what they are voting for when they vote for Bush or Kerry.

This past January 11th, while still exploring a run for president in 2004, Ralph Nader spoke at a meeting of independent voters in New Hampshire for a conference called Choosing An Independent President 2004. No Democratic presidential candidates came, although they were all invited. Nader spoke as an independent to the 35% of independent-voting Americans. He spoke to the challenges he would be facing even to get on the ballot in all 50 states. Being an independent myself, I knew he was not giving up on America as I sat in that room in Manchester.

According to a recent Newsweek poll, Ralph Nader has support from 12% of young voters (aged 18-29). At least some people in this country have hope for the future. Apparently everyone else would like to choose between two people who both voted for the war in Iraq, the PATRIOT Act, and No Child Left Behind. Some choice, huh? No wonder Bush and Kerry are so close in the polls (and why Democrats and Republicans historically are); they both want the same things. It is remarkable that neither candidate sounds wrong when he criticizes the other, and yet they don't even have to lie!

So we figured out why Nader is not in the "Anybody But Bush" category... he is actually Somebody. He is a clear choice, he is someone who can change this country and he can challenge it to do better for its people and for the world... scary, I know!

Yes, Nader will be trouble for Kerry, because Ralph Nader:
- Wants to make health care universally available.
- Wants electoral reform that creates a vibrant, active, participatory Democracy.
- Wants a crackdown on corporate crime and abuse.
- Wants a fair tax where the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share, tax wealth more than work, and tax activities we dislike more than necessities.
- Opposes media bias and media concentration.
- A family farm-consumer agriculture system.
- Wants to end poverty in the United States.
- Wants to create jobs by investing in America's future, invest in Americans.
- Wants to expand worker's rights by developing an employee bill of rights.
- Wants fair trade that protects the environment, labor rights and consumer needs.
- A federal budget that puts human needs before corporate greed and corporate militarism.
- Corporations should not be given equal rights with humans.
- Education for everyone.
- Opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
- Wants to restore and expand civil liberties and constitutional rights.
- Supports equal rights for gays and lesbians.
- Wants to reform the criminal injustice system.
- Wants to end the war on drugs.
- Wants to create a new energy policy.
- Toward consumer justice.
- Toward saving lives by increasing motor vehicle safety.
- Toward a world of peace, justice, and fulfillment of human possibilities within a sustainable environment.
*To read in detail about these issues visit: www.votenader.org

All right, you don't have to vote for Nader, but at least dare to explore the possibilities: www.votenader.org

I announce the formation of a Students for Nader chapter on this campus, as a division of the UW-Eau Claire College Independents or even independent from that (it's up to you). Email me with your questions/comments or to be added to the Students for Nader emailing list: gragerje@uwec.edu

An exploratory meeting will be held this Thursday, April 1st at 7:00pm in the Wisconsin Room in Davies...come with an open mind.