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As election day approaches, I am reminded that the voters are ultimately responsible for putting the worst of the worst in office. One of the causes for this is our blind party politics that cause us to vote with ignorance instead of what we truly believe.

Throughout this election, I have constantly heard people saying they will vote for Gray Davis because he is the “lesser of two evils.” Upon further inquiry, the only reasons is because he’s not a Republican.

Such blind ignorance is not becoming of a thoughtful student population, supposedly educated to think openly and be tolerant. While it is true that the Republican Party does represent more traditional America, it is also true that this tradition has historically led the GOP to embrace the freedom loving doctrine of the United States.

While the Vietnam War escalated under Democratic executive rule, it was the loathed Richard Nixon who put a stop to the idiotic campaign. George W. Bush packed his cabinet and advisor positions with black men, women, Jews, Latinos, and an openly gay man.

Despite their progressive track record, rancid special interest groups, such as NOW, the NAACP, and even our own professorship continue to use the GOP as a scapegoat for all that is wrong with society.

The irony of the whole situation is that there is almost no practical difference between the two parties. Big business fills the pockets of both parties as evidenced by Davis’ behavior. Both parties have dramatically increased the role of government in private affairs, making the United States an alien entity from its original purpose of private property, freedom, and personal responsibility.

And while Bush cried about over-taxation but gave a measly tax cut, he signed legislation giving huge subsidies to farmers and large tariffs on foreign steel that will ultimately cost the taxpayer. In practice, both parties are essentially equal.

Let’s go back and re-examine the two evils that are contending for the governor of California. If we strip away the anti-GOP propaganda and biased media reporting, we know very little about either candidate, but enough to make the decision is clear. Davis screwed Californians by fouling up our energy policy. He closed the best privately run prisons because union members of state prisons made campaign donations. He has done nothing to help Californian’s failing schools, has neglected to alleviate the immigration problem and then cited terrorism as a reason to deny hard working immigrants driver’s licenses, and passed tons of legislation that will hurt small business owners.

Bill Simon, meanwhile, is a successful businessman who has had ups and downs (like all people in business have), is married to a pro-choice woman, and has said that he will not pack the California Supreme Court based on ideology. I only see one evil here.

Those who know me well know that I am not a big fan of the GOP. I am critical of Bush and realize that both parties do more to hinder freedom than to perpetuate it. But I do not let special interests control my thoughts and convert them into malice for the GOP.

So tomorrow, think critically about the issues, leave hate and propaganda behind, and vote with your values and with your mind. And if you still feel that we only have a choice between two evils, vote for the Libertarian or Green party. If we keep voting for the two parties only, they have no incentive to change.