My girlfriend recently moved into a new apartment and her TV only manages to pick up two channels (CBS and NBC) because she doesn't have cable yet. With only two channels, there really isn't too much mystery surrounding, "What's on tonight?" I can't help but see a few parallels between her situation and the upcoming election.
The networks broadcast very similar line-ups; you get your morning news, then the morning talk shows, news at noon, soaps, afternoon talk shows, evening news, sitcoms/dramas, late news, and finally late-night shows. It's a formula that viewers know. Likewise, the differences between the Democrats and Republicans show up in their priorities, but there are no great differences to be expected. The agendas that George W. Bush and John F. Kerry describe in their speeches are more alike than different, with a few exceptions.
A two-party system, like a two-channel TV, gets very boring after a while. It's would be like if the only choices for dinner in the cafeteria were a hamburger or a chicken patty—all of the vegetarians can eat the bun; vegans, leave now or face the wrath of the kitchen staff. The interesting viewpoints, the unique perspectives are found on cable (or HBO) and great food isn't served in cafeterias. However, the American third parties are a novelty, a sideshow, a persona non-gratis. If you're voting Green, Socialist, or Nader, it's just another vote for Bush (as it takes votes away from Kerry). And if you're voting Constitutional or Libertarian, John Kerry thanks you.
So, despite the availability of seven or more candidates for presidency, the run for the White House is between Kerry and Bush. However, we've already concluded—or at least I have—that the two frontrunners are quite similar in policy. Kerry would like to involve our allies in major policy decisions; Bush would like to go at it alone, Texas style. Kerry supports a woman's right to choose; Bush would like to ban abortion, and will likely stuff the Supreme Court with "non-activist" judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade. Bush initially supported a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage, but recently changed his mind and "disagrees with his party" on it now; Kerry believes in civil unions, but not marriage, for gay couples. Both say no to a draft. Both say we need to continue our battles in Iraq and train more Iraqis. Both support education, at least in name, but Kerry wants more funding for No Child Left Behind. Kerry wants to raise our environmental standards and repeal portions of Clean Skies and Healthy Forests while Bush thinks corporations will take care of the environment just fine, thank you. Kerry would like to provide a national health care plan, while Bush favors prescription cards. Both want to lower your taxes, but neither has any good plan for paying for any it.
If the two candidates' policies are so minutely different—or rather, so obviously similar—what does this election really matter? It matters because there is still a choice: are you pro-Bush or anti-Bush? Each voter needs to ask himself or herself, "Am I better off than I was four years ago?" and most importantly, "Is America better than it was before Bush took office?" These are two very different questions. While many people, myself included, internalize a president's record and want to vote for the candidate who best matches their opinions, I don't think that is the correct way to vote. If this was the case, I'd be voting Green or for Nader. The second question bears all of the weight on a vote.
So loyal readers, is America better than when Bush took office? Are we safer? Is the environment cleaner? Is education improving? Is the economy stronger? Is healthcare more affordable and advanced? And the kicker, has America's position in the world improved? I don't think that anyone can claim—with any objectivity—that America is more respected or admired than it was four years ago. I'm not going to pretend that I approve of the Bush Administration, because it would be a lie. But, I'm also not a big fan of John Kerry.
On Election Day, some of you will stay home and neglect your responsibilities as a citizen. The rest of you will cast your vote one of two ways: "I approve of George Bush and his decisions, right or wrong, over the past four years" or "I disapprove of Bush's policies and think changes are needed."