Chris Hedges: Why I’m Voting Green - TruthDig

["Mad" Miles]

Chris Hedges weighs in. Mostly quoting Jill Stein.

I strongly disagreed with his take on Black Bloc/k/que tactics in Occupy! But here, we're on the same page.

https://www.truthdig.com/report/item/why_im_voting_green_20121029//

[Valley Oak]

Chris Hedges innocently says, "And for this reason I will vote next month for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, although I could as easily vote for Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party. I will step outside the system."

But Hedges' naivete is precisely in his starkly mistaken conception that he will be stepping out of the system. By simply casting a vote, for the Greens or the Justice candidate or anyone else, he is by default participating in the system. That is the fundamental flaw in Hedges' argument.

You cannot change a fixed or "corrupt" system by participating in it. It is "rigged" or designed to benefit only those people that Hedges reviles. Hedges is trapped in the Matrix, and blind to it, just like the rest of us. This overarching fact makes his piece a moot point.

Edward

PS: I liked the illustration of the two political party babies (Rep & Dem) suckling from the pig's nipples. It is an obvious reference to the symbol of the Roman Empire, which had Romulus and Remus as infants suckling from the wolf that supposedly raised them. That statue, reportedly, was present in the Roman Senate at all times. (Romulus and Remus founded the Roman Kingdom, which later became the Republic, and finally, the Empire.)



Chris Hedges weighs in. Mostly quoting Jill Stein.

I strongly disagreed with his take on Black Bloc/k/que tactics in Occupy! But here, we're on the same page.

https://www.truthdig.com/report/item/why_im_voting_green_20121029//

[Shepherd]

I agree with Chris Hedges and wrote in Jill Stein during the primaries and have voted for her in the election already. I consider it a protest vote and one of the best things we can do at this point. I have heard her speak in person and witnessed her direct actions, which has caused her to be arrested numerous times. She is articulate and kind--a can-do leader that this new post-Hurricane Sandy era needs. We have experienced a "sea change--both literally and figuratively. Even Businessweek ran a front-page banner headline "It's Climate Change, Stupid!" As Bob Dylan wrote, "The Times They are a'Changing." Yea!

As a foreign correspondent in many war zones for years, Hedges is hardly "naive" or "innocent." He is a principled man of character, as well as pragmatic, effective, and an excellent writer who takes risks. He's my kind of guy.
Go, Jill, Go!
Shepherd


Chris Hedges innocently says, "And for this reason I will vote next month for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, although I could as easily vote for Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party. I will step outside the system."

But Hedges' naivete is precisely in his starkly mistaken conception that he will be stepping out of the system. By simply casting a vote, for the Greens or the Justice candidate or anyone else, he is by default participating in the system. That is the fundamental flaw in Hedges' argument.

You cannot change a fixed or "corrupt" system by participating in it. It is "rigged" or designed to benefit only those people that Hedges reviles. Hedges is trapped in the Matrix, and blind to it, just like the rest of us. This overarching fact makes his piece a moot point.

Edward

PS: I liked the illustration of the two political party babies (Rep & Dem) suckling from the pig's nipples. It is an obvious reference to the symbol of the Roman Empire, which had Romulus and Remus as infants suckling from the wolf that supposedly raised them. That statue, reportedly, was present in the Roman Senate at all times. (Romulus and Remus founded the Roman Kingdom, which later became the Republic, and finally, the Empire.)

[Valley Oak]

I too might vote for Jill Stein if we had Proportional Representation in the US. But we don't. And voting for a 3rd party in a swing state (which California clearly is not) when so much is at stake is very reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous. California is not a swing state so voting for a 3rd party here won't have an effect on the election. Many human lives are at stake around the world in this election! So please...

Chris Hedges could easily have a lot more work as a war correspondent as a consequence of a Romney victory. I wish that Chris Hedges' naivete would not blind him to that harsh reality, but disgracefully, as with many 3rd party voters in swing states, Hedges believes that voting for the Green Party will stop the war. But it won't. It will only accomplish the opposite.

Voting for the Green Party or Jill Stein not only will not stop any wars, it could easily bring more wars to our doorstep by allowing Mitt Romney to occupy the White House. Allowing Romney to become president would cause many more deaths around the world and also to young American women and men serving in the US military.

If I was an experienced war correspondent like Chris Hedges, I would think, "Gee, I've taken lots of photos of dead women and children overseas. I better keep Romney out of office to avoid more wars. I am going to vote to re-elect President Obama!" But that is not what Hedges is saying. If Chris Hedges is in a swing state, then he is being extremely naive and innocent, as well as reckless, irresponsible, and contradicting himself and his intention of reducing or eliminating war.

Edward



I agree with Chris Hedges and wrote in Jill Stein during the primaries and have voted for her in the election already. I consider it a protest vote and one of the best things we can do at this point. I have heard her speak in person and witnessed her direct actions, which has caused her to be arrested numerous times. She is articulate and kind--a can-do leader that this new post-Hurricane Sandy era needs. We have experienced a "sea change--both literally and figuratively. Even Businessweek ran a front-page banner headline "It's Climate Change, Stupid!" As Bob Dylan wrote, "The Times They are a'Changing." Yea!

As a foreign correspondent in many war zones for years, Hedges is hardly "naive" or "innocent." He is a principled man of character, as well as pragmatic, effective, and an excellent writer who takes risks. He's my kind of guy.
Go, Jill, Go!
Shepherd

["Mad" Miles]

Hedges hasn't worked as a war correspondent in over a decade. He's a public intellectual who writes books and columns.

The "System" he was referring to, is the Duopoly.

[Valley Oak]

The only thing we can do with such an undemocratic process like our two-party system is to keep out of power the worst possible option--Romney. That's why.

That is the only thing we can do unless we reform the two-party system through constitutional amendment.

Edward



Catch up Edward. Hedges hasn't worked as a war correspondent in over a decade. He's a public intellectual who writes books and columns.

The "System" he was referring to, is the Duopoly.