I voted for the first time in 2008. My vote was for then candidate Barack Obama. I did not vote for Barack Obama, I voted for his plataform, which is nothing more than his ideas put into legislative proposals that would end up being approved by Congress. I was excited to vote a fundamental change in how things were done in D.C., to vote for ideas that would finally enact the progressive agenda our nation needs. Now in 2010, I just can't vote for either party.
The Democratic Party threw us under the bus, they forgot their agenda was what got people like me to the polls in the first place. I consider myself a Democrat because I believe in what the Democratic Party's plataform say they believe in: universal health care, progressive taxation, diplomacy instead of war, gay rights, comprehensive immigration reform, union rights, environmental protection, corporate regulation, among others.
What has happened since 2008 until now is a complete disregard to this plataform in the name of bipartisanship, in the name of accepting compromises with an extreme, radical, far right party that does not care about anything else but the rich white males in America and the corporations they own and control. Since the beggining, the President and his party preffered to compromise with a party that does not care about working families, because the DC establishment would praise them.
- The stimulus package was full of tax cuts that do not stimulate the economy, and why because Republicans wanted them there. Also, it was incredibly small. What happened to infrastructure spending?
- Employers Free Choice Act: Once the Republicans said they did not wanted it, they just gave up, stop talking about it because union rights and workers rights are apparently not necessary to built a stronger middle class based economy.
- Universal health care: Republicans began screaming about a socialist government takeover, so what do democrats do, they compromised with the pharmaceutical industry. But that was not enough, they even gave away the only mecanism to stop insurance companies powers: the public option. Why? because they did not want republicans calling them names on the media. They just rather expand the for profit health care system mandating us to buy overpriced and undervalued insurance.
- Iraq War: The Democrats once again got scared by the Republicans and instead of bringing all our troops home, they decided to make the occupation permanent. I guess the money and lives wasted there do not matter, I guess respecting other nations sovereignty matters less.
- Afgan War: Once again the Democrats escalated a failed war sending 50 thousand troops into harms way for no apparent reason. Why do they need to compromise with a Right Wing Party everytime? Aren't we right in foreing policy, aren't this wars unnecesary and should be ended now?
- Wall Street Regulation: Once again the Democrats got scared by Republicans and did not allow for the big banks to be broken up into small pieces so not once more too big to fail is a possibility. Oh, and not even a mention of Glass-Steagall, which is the only way we can garantee that Wall Street excesses do not put Mainstreet in danger.
- DADT: Why was it never presented for a vote in the Senate as a stand alone bill? Why did we have to appeal the decision to end the policy if we believe it is not only discriminatory but unconstitutional?
- DOMA: When was the last time you heard the President even mention it
- Comprehensive immigration eform: Not even a bill was presented in the Senate. No discussion. Excuses for bipartisanship, over and over again. The Dream Act was not even presented as a stand alone bill. Why should we hispanics vote for a party that just does not care about US, and our needs?
- Energy legislation: The Senate did not even took the weak and already compromised cap and trade legislation.
- Bush tax cuts: Still there and now talk to expand them all. Why? The rich should pay more taxes, that is fiscally responsible.
In sum: This election is not a choice and no election is. People vote for an agenda and there is no need to vote for a party that just did not care or try to even get close to achieving any of the 11 points in this agenda. Why should I vote for a corporate controlled party and its candidates.
I urge every one of you to only vote for a progressive agenda, and not vote just because the Democratic candidates are just less right wing that the Republicans. Why? Because we should not reward those who failed us already.