Progressive Independence
“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” - Gandhi

There's been an anonymous commenter recently on this blog that keeps repeating the mythic mantra (in a variety of ways) -- "If you don't vote for a Democrat, you are voting for a Republican." This mantra is to many Democrats as the mythic mantra "Liberal Media" is to most Republicans -- a way to intimidate people who don't think like they do into thinking like they do.

So anonymous poster: I don't agree with this black and white thinking. I think in rainbow colors. Maybe I choose purple. If you say that there is only a choice between black and white, and if I don't choose white I'm in reality choosing black, I call B.S. to that. I'm choosing purple. It's not my fault that you only want a black and white world -- the world is not black and white. I'm sure you are very invested in buying into this system of black and white or you wouldn't spend so much time and energy trying to convince those of us who think outside of the box to get back in that box.

Here's my disclaimer:

I'm not a Democrat, although I was in my past. I'm not a Green, although I was one in my more recent past.

I'm a Progressive Independent.

I'm free to support and vote for the best candidate. I'm not tied to a candidate based on party alone.

I will no longer support or vote for the lesser of evils, although I did along time ago.

If you are a candidate and want to earn my vote, you need to stand for peace, a healthy and sustainable planet, health care for all, social justice for all, equality for all. You need to reject corporate personhood and corporate corruption in politics, and have the cajones to stand up for what's right even if your fellow lawmakers would rather roll over and play dead so that they can get re-elected.

If you are a party-loyalist who wants me to vote for your party's candidate, you will need to make sure that your party's nominee meets the above requirements.