There is no real difference between the policies of McCain and Obama. They have similar policies on a wide range of issues, from greater investment in the military to continuing intervention in the Middle East. Whoever is elected, we will see a continuation with the same neo-liberal policies that have resulted in disaster for the financial and housing sectors of the economy.

It may seem that there is no point in a protest vote, as the Democrats and Republicans are the "only game in town". However, participation in elections is at an all-time low for this reason. We need to begin building an alternative, otherwise we will continue to be faced a choice between two parties with the same agenda. Politics is reduced, not to a debate between different world views, but to a personality contest. Why should only those who can bankroll a campaign costing millions of dollars be in with a chance of running for President? How can such a leader be in touch with the concerns of ordinary people, struggling to make ends meet as the credit crunch bites.

The only candidate with a chance of getting a vote which may make the Democrats look over their shoulder is Ralph Nader. The only way to force concessions from the political establishment is to build a strong challenge to them. Unless pressure is brought on whichever corporate candidate is elected, their only agenda will be the corporations who bankroll their campaigns. Wherever we can we need to build community campaigns to stand up for our interests, not the interests of big corporations. Both main parties are corrupt to the core - funded by big business, they do the bidding of big business. We need to make the voices of ordinary people heard.

Other candidates like Cindy Sheehan, disgusted by the response of the democrats to her anti-war stance, are also offering an alternative to the politics of corporate greed. We need to start the fight back now - for better wages and working conditions, for the future of the planet and for the next generation.

For more information and to help build an alternative -
look at www.votenader.org
and www.socialistalternative.org

Andrew Walton