I don’t know what to do.

When it comes to politics, I can talk about reforms I’d like to have implemented, injustices that I’d like to see corrected, and policies that seem like the right way to go.

When it comes to politicians, on the other hand, I’m lost.

Give me liberty or give me: A confused and frustrated college student’s issues with the American political process.

Everyone tells me what to do with my vote. Each faction paints the others as part of the problem and itself as the beacon of truth, the salvation that can be ours for a vote or a donation. The media is no help, it’s owned by large corporations and staffed with fervent supporters of political parties. When I look at a news source that I might like to read, the first thing I do is go to the “about us” section of the website to find biases, then look up the editor-in-cheif (and other high ranking people) to see if I can find out if he donates half his salary to causes or parties I don’t agree with. I have to investigate just to get a vague idea of what side of the story they’re presenting. Let’s not take it too far though, the media in this country is a whole other discussion.

At this point it’s pretty easy to see the republicans aren’t the answer. Scandal after scandal, a foreign policy disaster, the deficit, the environment… there’s no need to be the billionth person to go on about what they’ve done to this country. But tell me, if the democrats were in a similar situation would they really be so much better? They’re just as corruptible as the current administration is, as Tom DeLay well knows. They weren’t exactly foaming at the mouth when President Bush first started talking about Iraq, either. I think the democrats have been less forceful than they could have been because they envy the republicans for riding in roughshod and just taking everything they wanted, subtlety be damned. What about the Green Party, then? Even without the whole “they’ll never get elected, you’re throwing away your vote” stigma, I have to be skeptical. Anyone can spout idealism and talk about radical reform, but once you’re on top, it’s nice to stay there and not rock the boat.
Why should Nader be any more inclined to live up to campaign promises than the other candidates?

Essentially, I feel like there’s no one I can trust, like any given candidate will screw me somehow. I believe in the democratic system, even as President Bush erodes it by expanding the powers of the executive. The only thing I can have any faith in is the voters themselves: they’re the most honest force in the system. Here’s my radical idea: end political parties and lobbying groups. Make it so that each candidate is entirely individual and cannot be beholden to small but wealthy corporations or other such groups. I think the greatest acheivement of the writers of our constitution (+10 cliche points for invoking the founding fathers) is that they divided it and made the branches check each other. Political parties and lobbies are too strong because nothing is keeping them in check. In an individual-based system, the public will check and balance itself because it is inherently divided regarding what policies individual people support. It’s like applying free market economic theory to the democratic process. Some might argue that our side of the equation is balanced, with lobbies on one side and the public on the other; That might work out on paper, but we all know the people are asleep and I have no doubts that corporate lobbies (maybe not so much for other types of lobbies) would rather keep us that way.

I’ve only been eligible to vote in one election and I’m already sick of it. Am I the only one who feels like a mouse who has to choose between cats?

-Vic