I have just finished reading Nonconsensual “Democracy” and the Degradation of the American Electorate by M. G. Piety published in the March 7 issue of Counterpunch:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/07/nonconsensual-democracy-and-the-d...

It is a very well written and succinct exploration of the "lesser of two evils" conundrum. The competition between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton makes this article so very pertinent for people like me. I'm 80 and was born and lived in a golden age for lower and middle class citizens. For the last forty years I have been fighting ineffectually against the rising power of oligarchy that has been at work since Franklin Roosevelt began the New Deal. The open warfare began with Ronald Reagan and accelerated under Clinton, both Bushes, and Obama. Now with Bernie Sander's candidacy I have some hope we can repair the damage. I don't know how tenuous that hope is but I have hope. That's important.

There is a discussion among progressives about whether or not to vote for Clinton if she wins the nomination because Donald Trump or Ted Cruz are waiting in the wings with a good chance of beating her. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot vote for her. Ever. I never voted for Bill either. My decision to vote for Nader has made people angry with me for years. The fact that Nader wasn't a spoiler as so many contend isn't much comfort when so few believe it. But the lesser of two evils has bothered me all this time because I've never been able to describe the problem adequately until now when Ms. Piety did it for me.

Here is a pertinent excerpt from her article:

“Voters are bombarded with propaganda to the effect that what they want is not possible. Many are so swayed by this propaganda that they can no longer think clearly about the issues to which it relates. The purpose of propaganda is precisely to circumvent rational thought. It works like a drug, depriving those it influences of autonomous judgment. Of course, people conclude, if these things were possible, then we would all do our best to see that they became actual, but, alas, they are not possible, so to work for them is a waste of time.

Not everyone is taken in by political propaganda. Some people know that not only are the political changes they want possible, they are genuine realities in other parts of the world. A special indignity is reserved for people who dare to keep their political wits about them despite the fact that they are bombarded with propaganda designed to undermine them. These people get to be fully conscious participants in their own degradation. Okay, respond the powers that be, you go ahead and vote your conscience, vote for someone who promises to bring about the kinds of changes you want. You know what will happen? You will get someone far, FAR worse than the “moderate” candidate you deem not good enough for you. The rest of the electorate, the sonorous voice continues, is not so forward thinking as you are. You will be "wasting your vote" on a candidate who doesn’t have a chance, and in that way, you will ensure that your worst political nightmares will come true.”

And that’s it. I’ve been looking for these words for a long time. Now I will continue to donate to Bernie and will vote my conscience in hope that a better day is at hand. More importantly, for whatever time I have left, I will vote for my candidates wherever they show up on the ballot.