The White Bison

Dear Mr. President,

Two articles in today’s paper have given me Hope. A white bison was born last month in Connecticut. Connecticut, of all places! White bison are rare, considered sacred by Native Americans, and portend an extremely auspicious event. And the Green Party’s presidential candidate is Jill Stein, a physician who got into politics years ago because she was frustrated with the social and environmental roots of disease. As she says, “… politics is the mother of all illnesses.” The Green Party’s platform is called The Green New Deal that, unlike you, will deal with global warming, financial inequity, regulation of Wall Street and a real solution to healthcare. The Green New Deal is aimed at transitioning the country to a green economy by investing about the same amount you gave the Banksters of Wall Street to bail them out. Only this time the money will be invested in America to create an estimated 25 million new jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign (and domestic) oil, and eliminate the need for future oil wars. The Green New Deal also guarantees a halt to foreclosures and evictions, tuition-free public education through college, Medicare for all, and an end to corporate domination of democracy. Pretty impressive. What we thought you were going to do and didn’t. I know her chances are close to zero; your people and Mitt’s people will make sure she doesn’t participate in the debates or get followed by the major media, but I want you to know this is not a protest vote. I’m not throwing my money or my vote away; I’m supporting and voting for someone I believe will actually do what they say they’ll do. Unlike you. Oh, her running mate, Cheri Honkalas, a one time homeless single mom, is a national anti-poverty advocate who has worked for 30 years with the poor, those people you and Mitt don’t see, don’t hear, and don’t care about. You may win again in November, Mr. President, but you’re not getting my vote. I’m looking to the Greens to deliver us from evil, from the nightmare of the past 11 years, from the nightmare of war without end, from the nightmare of presidents who ignore the law, the Constitution and human rights, who lie without hesitation and murder without regret. Who knows, maybe that white bison is a portent of things to come. Maybe in November the American people will be angry enough and disgusted enough to give someone with a true sense of democracy and justice a chance to right what is wrong and get us back on track. I sure Hope so.