Running For President, and Believing In Yourself

IN ANY GIVEN AMERICAN presidential election, there are, believe it or not, more than two candidates running. More than a few. In fact, far more.On any given ballot you will of course seethe democrat and the republican at the top, both representing the one dominant political party, the party of property, the party of ownership, the party of wealth. the usual tweedle dee and tweedle dum. then, a bit further down,you might see a third party candidate, someone with virtually no chance to win, but who will get several million votes, usually called the "independent" candidate. In some states, if you're really lucky, you'll even have a chance to vote for a green party candidate, or a socialist labor party candidate, or maybe just a worker's party candidate. And that's about it, at most. Your real choice boils down to corporate candidate number one, and corporate candidate number two, tweedle dee, and tweedle dum. Nobody else has ever become president, and likely nobody else ever will.When they say that your vote is meaningless, they mean what they say. But in fact there are hundreds of other candidates. Already, there are over two hundred presidential candidates signed up for 2016, which is about average, with more probably to come. there is a bus driver and political groupee in upstate new York whose hat is in the ring, and he vows to balance the federal budget on his first day in office, somehow. then there's the substitute school teacher out in Wyoming who has simply had enough. And don't overlook the nice young lady in Kentucky whose husband dared her to put up or shut up, and she decided to put up. she'll be a bit short on money and campaign time, however; her day job, down at the donut shop, comes first, as do her four year old and her eight year old. And the list goes on. Most of these invisible office seekers tend to be conservative libertarians sorts, especially when the incumbent is a democrat; when a republican is in office, out come the environmental crusaders and anti-corporate crusaders for social justice. they have one thing in common; they are truly great Americans, and they have ad ream, albeit a rather remote one. For the most part, they will never be seen on television, heard on radio, or appear on any ballot. You will never hear of them. but there they are, bravely running, offering themselves as alternatives to the great American political power structure, at least trying. And for that, we should be grateful. We can't say we never had a real choice, only that our choices were not real. It is surprisingly easy to run for president in the United States of Advertising. the easiest way is to simply declare your candidacy, and go for it. Maybe something in the classified ad section, maybe a few knocks on a few doors. maybe a few friends and family members to write you in, and make you feel, if not really appreciated, at least notice by someone. In order to actually become president you must be at least thirty five years of age, a natural born citizen, and felony free. That's all, according to the constitution. In reality, you have to get wealthy people to give you a billion dollars, and swear to heaven that, if elected, you will pay back your wealthy benefactors. That's the way Obama, and all who have come before him, have gotten it done. but you needn't be honest, intelligent, or even sane. photogenic appeal is mandatory, or fast becoming so. the "official" way to enter the race requires only a bit of paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission, and, if memory serves, a reasonable fee. So there you have it. Your pathway to the White House is laid out before you. And remember, if you happen to choose to run, will, at least, have a good story to tell your grandchildren, and the pride of knowing that at least you offered your services, at least you tried.