8/30/2008 5:14:00 PM My Turn: Frustrations of a true independent voter
Frederick Shute
What does it mean to be an independent voter?
To me it means to be able to vote for the best individuals I feel will represent my system of values and beliefs for the political offices they seek.
The political platforms of both the Republican and Democratic parties represent to me the lesser of two evils - and I am not sure which is more degenerate. Both political parties are controlled by the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, banking and military industrial powers that essentially control everything. John McCain and Barack Obama answer to the same masters. Anyone who believes otherwise is a fool.
When I walk into the voting booth for the primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 2, I am no longer an independent. I will be required to state allegiance to either the Republican or Democratic Party. Thanks to the time honored tradition of crossing party lines to undermine a potential opponent it is impossible to be a true independent voter. I cannot vote for the best person in each race regardless of party affiliation.
In my view there are two races of critical importance to the quality of our lives in the primary election Tuesday.
Tom O'Halleran, running for re-election to the Arizona Senate, has been a valiant defender of the quality of life for us in the Verde Valley through his involvement in the crucial water issues that are paramount to our very survival. There are few who have the depth of understanding or who have constantly fought to protect the quality and wise use of our precious water resources, not only in the Verde Valley, but also throughout the state of Arizona. On education Tom is by far the best advocate for the future of our children.
Tom O'Halleran is a Republican.
In the race for the Arizona 1st Congressional District of the U.S. Congress, for me, the choice is beyond obvious.
Howard Shanker has already accomplished more as a private individual to protect and improve the quality of life in District 1 than all the other candidates of both parties put together. Howard was instrumental in preventing a major housing development on the edge of the Grand Canyon. He was masterful in stopping Peabody Coal in their demented sucking of the aquifer below the Hopi and Navajo reservations to slurry coal 200 miles to Nevada. He has fought long and hard to stop the desecration of the San Francisco Peaks by spraying supposedly treated toilet water that contains Prosac and other pharmaceutical waste that is untreatable. On and On. Howard has walked the walk.
His main opponent, Ann Kirkpatrick, is promoted and financed by a Republican-controlled part of the DCCC called the Red to Blue Program. The Republicans know they cannot win the 1st District after the despicable sludge that Rick Renzi left behind so they have chosen a Democrat they can control. Of course because the Democratic and Republican parties are controlled by the same people the Democratic power brokers goosestep as they are told. Ann Kirkpatrick is nothing but a sock puppet.
My problem is Howard Shanker is a Democrat.
So, when I go into the voting booth on Sept. 2 what should I be - a Republican or a Democrat?
Frederick Shute is a resident of the Rimrock area in the Verde Valley.
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, August 31, 2008
Article comment by:
Allen C.
Since Shanker's race is federal and O'Halleran's isn't, it would seem that it's more important to cast your vote for Shanker.
