Multiparty democracy now!

If you support a progressive agenda, then support a progressive candidate.

Canada is going to have general elections next month. Apparently, the debates are going to include five national party leaders. Canadian debates regularly include four or more leaders and the sky hasn't fallen on northern democracy. In fact, their real multiparty democracy probably functions better than our version.

Last week, independent and smaller party candidates gathered in Washington in what was described a 'display of unity'.

Though from differing parts of the political spectrum, the candidates agreed on the following policy points:

Ending the Iraq war as quickly as possible.

Strengthening privacy and civil liberties.
Reducing the national debt.
Auditing the Federal Reserve.

All of which puts them on the opposite side of the two corporate parties. These real differences with the Establishment Talking Points are why they are all completely ignored by the corporate media.

With 44 percent of Americans believing that America's problems can't be fixed under the current two-party system, the excuse that the public 'isn't interested' in smaller party candidates no longer holds water, not that it ever did.

This editorial in the local daily explains some of the other barriers blocking 'third party' candidates. The biggest one being electoral laws rigged by the two corporate parties for their own benefit.

Up until the 1880s in this country, there were no obstacles keeping candidates from getting on the ballot. But as third-party candidates racked up victories against the major political parties of the day, those parties, which were in power, introduced more and more stringent ballot requirements, such as requiring a large number of signatures or an entry fee to qualify.

If America wanted to be a real multiparty democracy, it would eliminate these restrictions and make it easier for citizens to get involved in the political process. But the duopoly wants to protect its interests. And as long as liberals and people think they're progressive given the Democrats a free pass for not being democrats, this situation will never change.