Letter: Every party has rights, not just the big two

People must vote with their hearts and their beliefs, regardless of what the consequences are. This is the spirit of our democracy. Those who voted for Ralph Nader and the Green Party did what they had every right to do. To blame the transfer of power to George W. Bush on them goes against the spirit of this country.

The true tragedy for our "democracy" is that the views of the independent candidates were not represented in the televised debates. How can this country declare itself for the people when candidates for the highest office are not given the time to speak to the people and express their views, but rather must bow to the pressures and money of the two-party system. This is not political freedom. It is political tyranny.

This country must initiate and further the cause of various parties in this country. The ideas and opinions of millions of people go unheard and unrepresented due to the big money of the two-party system. I think the desire of Nader to run a losing battle only represents his desires to further this need. Even though the Green Party and other independent candidates had no chance to win, that does not discount them from their views and the views of millions who feel disenchanted with the current system.

JEFF KLEIN

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