This new year, I am resolved to . . .
give respect to people who voted for Nader in 2000.
I, like many dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, grumbled incessantly about Nader voters handing Bush the election in 2000. Not anymore. Here's why:
This morning, as I drove to work, I was thinking about the time I had the honor of serving on a jury. It was a very typical "slip-and-fall" case; the kind that many people would call one of those frivolous lawsuits that shouldn't be tried. Still, that's beside the point of my story.
After we, the jury, heard the arguments and testimony, we returned to the jury room to deliberate. I was elected foreman (why, I have no idea). At any rate, I was absolutely amazed at the seriousness with which all of us took the case, and our all-important role in adjudicating it. We talked about and argued each and every point of the case (many of which were quite sophisticated, well, at least to me). After much deliberation, we voted in favor of the defendant.
So, twelve ordinary Americans each took their role very seriously, and worked hard to make a decision they could live with. Many people like to rail against ignorant juries, much like people like to rail against ignorant voters.
Since actually talking with instead of arguing with Nader voters, I've found most of them to be highly informed on the issues facing our nation and world. Their votes weren't cast out of some sort of reactionary or "protest" vote as much as they were out of what we commonly call "conscience." They assessed the facts, and made their decisions.
To take this a step further, I think most Americans take their votes very seriously, and try to do their very best in making decisions based on the information at hand (this is why the SCLM is so friggin' terrible: as most American voters still rely exclusively upon it).
I hope that in the coming year, none of us forget the overall decency of the American people. Sure, many have been hoodwinked by Bush's fear campaign and the piss-poor job the media has been doing. Still, this is no reason to take it out on our fellow Americans.
Now is the time to work hard, every day, to promote our beliefs and our candidates. I believe in the people of our great nation to do the right thing. We, the people, all have a patriotic duty to give each other, the people, the opportunity.
Here's to a truly wonderful 2004!