I, too, congratulate Ralph Nader for running in the presidential race.

He is a progressive hero for many of us. I also think it is unjust that a two-party system dominates our country, and I believe we need to reform our election system and institutionalize techniques such as instant run-off voting.

But I would also like to address the fallacy that Democrats are united in electing “anybody but Bush,” no matter their priorities. It is true there are incredible stakes in this election; the threat of Bush appointing Supreme Court justices and passing an amendment to our Constitution sanctioning discrimination, is scary enough for us all. Nonetheless, Democrats are doing their research and determining who would make the best president.

I have no doubts I will support the Democratic nominee. Not because the nominee will be the person to fill my “anybody but Bush” slate, but because the Rev. Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards and John Kerry all share similar ideas as mine on what vital changes our country needs.

These candidates aren’t just “alternatives” to Bush; they are progressive leaders who have the records to prove it and the determination to take this country back from the extreme conservatism that has trashed our environment, threatened our civil liberties and lied to us in order to start an unjustified war.

Hannah Schoenthal-Muse

President

ISU Democrats