This May Be Our Last Chance

Photo: Candace Suerstedt

This week marks the 38th Earth Day. It seems impossible that nearly four decades have passed since the first one in 1970. Though I had grown up reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring , I don't think I realized the full significance of that first Earth Day. I do remember that a number of folks dismissed it as yet another "hippie commie" activity and even the news magazines were unsure of how to portray the event.

The Uppity Wisconsin recalled that Newsweek was bemused, and somewhat dismissive, calling Earth Day "a bizarre nationwide rain dance" and the nation's "biggest street festival since the Japanese surrendered in 1945." Time said the day "had aspects of a secular, almost pagan holiday..." Newsweek asked,  "whether the whole uprising represented a giant step forward for contaminated Earthmen or just a springtime skipalong."

At any rate, here we are 38 years later and the worst environmental predictions from those early years seem optimistic in relation to what has actually happened to our environment.

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Party Crasher

With Ralph Nader announcing his presidential candidacy, the embarrassment of holding him partially responsible for Al Gore’s loss in 2000 crept up like a forgotten nightmare. I don’t like admitting this — although many in my party don’t mind — because I believe what Mr. Nader has said about bipartisanship is true.

The two-party system is choking civic involvement. Labeling oneself as either a Democrat or a Republican feels stifling now as more and more voters claim their independence. 

I don’t think Ralph Nader’s run for office this time will siphon votes the way I begrudgingly believe it did in 2000. That’s because Dems have heard his message earlier this year, and mostly rejected it.

When John Edwards’ campaign message featured big corporations versus the little people, it was a prelude to Mr. Nader’s meat-and-potato policy initiatives. Edwards’s message was mostly rejected by early primary voters. So unless former Edwards’ supporters jump ship from backing Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to go third-party for a day, Mr. Nader is competing for undecided Democratic and Independent voters.

Personally, I think Mr. Nader’s work has made a huge impact on America’s view on the important role of independent voters, the environment, and big business’ relationship with regular consumers. However, his days of running for office are irrelevant and will likely be ignored by most voters this time around. Then again, maybe Ralph Nader is as much a "miracles guy" like Mike Huckabee when it comes to victoriously ending this election.

-Citizen Voices blogger Alma Sove has spent most of her life in San Diego and is currently attending law school. 

The ‘90s, a Topless Bar and Libertarians in San Diego

Is this 1990? Really, is this 1990 all over again? Then why is Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain spouting off about "no new taxes" if elected? I know, Republicans are in awe of the Reagan years, but come on! Stop stealing campaign promises from Reagan's former vice president! 

Though, while this is amusing, it also seems someone didn't do neighborhood scoping plans well enough. Yes, Hillary Clinton's Austin, Texas campaign headquarters is next door to a topless bar. Furthermore, it seems her husband was an hour late to the new headquarters. Hmmm... I wonder, I wonder...

What ever could have kept the former president up? In all seriousness, I really hope this doesn't turn out to look too bad on her campaign. Topless dancers aside, the Democrats are pretty split. So split, in fact, they called forth Al Gore to help clean up the mess. And this, my friends, brings up the term superdelegates. 

No, readers, we're not in a Marvel comic book, superdelegates are over 750 REAL people who will finally, once and for all, decide the Democrat's candidate for president. I know, when I heard the term, I pictured Superman and Batman stepping into the Democratic National Convention to cast their votes. Though that WOULD bring some much needed excitement to the proceedings, in my opinion.

Also, this weekend in sunny San Diego is the Libertarian Annual Convention of Delegates for California.

Your Libertarian Citizen Voices blogger is going to try VERY hard to cover it for all of you, if he can! Check the blog for more updates. I'll be discussing it next week either way.

-Steven Garrett is a professional food blogger who lives in Chula Vista.