There is another choice-Independent

As a child and adolescent growing up in America in the 1950s and 1960s, during the Cold War era, I was taught that America is a bastion of Christianity and morality in the world and capitalism was to be promoted and spread around the world as a great and good thing.

On the other hand, Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba and other countries of the Communist Bloc were the epitome of evil that oppressed millions throughout the world and that communism should be eradicated. I never questioned this. As a young man, I dutifully went to Vietnam to fight communism, thinking not only was I fulfilling a moral obligation to my country, but to God as well.

Now, I'm not so sure about all that. I'm not saying I was lied to deliberately. I think the whole country was misled. My doubts sprung from a most unexpected source-the Holy Bible, Gods word, which I hold dearer than the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. As far as I know from what I've read in God's Word-and I have yet to be corrected if I'm wrong-neither is capitalism necessarily "good" nor is communism necessarily "bad," and this is in spite of what so-called religious right-wing Republicans would have us believe.

Now, I am not a communist nor do I plan on becoming one, so don't roll over in your grave Senator McCathy; although I am not impressed with what I have seen as the results of capitalism in our country lately. I'm no Democrat either because I know that what is on their agenda is an abomination to God and man.

In other words, I think many Americans, besides myself, are not only fed up with the Democrats' Godless liberalism but also the Republicans' hypocritical conservatism. So please remember that at the polls.

There are other political parties with candidates running for office. The two big do-nothing-for-the-average-American parties have had their chance too many times and failed. Isn't it about time someone else besides a Democrat or a Republican has a chance to occupy the White House and screw up the country for a change?

John Cooper
Stockton

Reader Feedback

Cogito wrote on May 12, 2008 9:51 PM:

" Leonard, the closest thing to a country moving towards a strong capitalist system today is Albania. They're doing better, but they have a long way to go. I understand the need for a limited government. But I would like to see us move the in opposite direction that were moving today. "

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Cogito wrote on May 12, 2008 9:36 PM:

" Leonard, you obviously need to look up the word "dubious". 60% of the citizens of this country contribute little to nothing in wealth redistribution. "

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Leonard wrote on May 12, 2008 12:50 PM:

" That is three quarters of the wealth belonging to its citizens, not the wealth of three quarters of its citizens.

The fact is that there hasn't been a real Capitalist country on this planet since the free market system collapsed 80 years ago. Even the best of the current systems is little more than market based socialism.

"

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Leonard wrote on May 12, 2008 12:48 PM:

" Cogito: Your challenge seems to imply that the failure of Communism stands in contrast to the success of Capitalism.

Given the fact that every so called Capitalist country redistributes somewhere between a third and three quarters of its citizens wealth each year, I find that assumption dubious at best. "

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Bob Loblaw wrote on May 12, 2008 12:40 PM:

" Why don't you put your money where your mouth is Mr. Cooper and run yourself? You might get a good idea exactly how many agree with your ideology.... "

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Cogito wrote on May 12, 2008 8:48 AM:

" I have a challenge for you Mr. Cooper. Name me just one successful communist country. If communism wasn't such a failure as an economic system, they wouldn't have to line the border with guards who will kill you if you try to leave. In our country, we have trouble keeping out the millions a year who risk life and limb to get in. There's a difference even a blind man could see. "

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wtf wrote on May 12, 2008 8:26 AM:

" Gee DanielH, you talking about RON PAUL? LOL!!! "

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DanielH wrote on May 12, 2008 8:09 AM:

" Someone on the Republican Party ticket would do a lot of good for America, and the Press does not acknowledge his existence. "

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