The Right Is Wrong, the Left Stupid, Naderites Pure and Courageous

Dear Editor,
   Not surprisingly, G.W. Bush, an illegitimate president that should be in jail, not elected (possibly, for the first time) into the White House – has taken, not been given, a mandate to further death and destruction throughout the world.
   In this political climate we have collectively built – one where citizens vote on who has the best "morals" (but where evaluating the morality of an unjust war as well as letting people stew in hunger, disease, and poverty in ours, the wealthiest country in the world, is not acceptable); where liberals step over each other to uphold a dying party – and corrupt candidates – that have left them far behind; where we just "show up" on Election Day expecting the miracle of the voting booth to save us just as, to some, the miracle of the free market has the power to save our economy – we could not have expected anything different.
   Although I'm proud (as state coordinator of the Nader campaign) of having stood up for peace and justice and for my democratic principals despite all pressure to do otherwise, I take no heart in knowing that lessons learned by progressives, if learned at all, will soon be forgotten.
   Never more have I been convinced of the saying "The right is wrong and the left is stupid." But if we can accept our failings, we might stand a chance in building a true movement of the people; especially if we leave behind institutions that leave people behind!