I had this letter published in the Western Washington University student newspaper...

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I take issue with Anna Ellermeier's comment, quoted in the February 8th Western Front.

"You better vote" she says, referring to the next day's caucuses. But for who?

Neither of the remaining democratic presidential candidates stand for rapid and unconditional withdrawal from Iraq. And both have consistently voted in favor of appropriating funds to perpetuate the occupation. Both support international "trade" policies that entrench large corporations' stranglehold on our national economic (and political) life while wreaking havoc in "developing" countries. Neither supports a national, universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care system. And not surprisingly, since both are recipients of huge amounts of money from the for-profit health-care industry.

In 2004, I participated in the democratic party caucuses because I could support Dennis Kucinich. But this year, I see no point. Rather, I will be spending my time, energy, and money supporting Cynthia McKinney's run for the Green Party's Presidential nomination, because I would rather struggle for something I want and not get it, than vote for something I don't want and get it.

Matteo Tamburini
Graduate Student
Mathematics