By Bryce Hoffman
Sports Editor

For those who are not satisfied with either major candidate in the upcoming presidential election, there is a third man with many different stances that Bush and Kerry are afraid to take. The Green Party’s David Cobb stands for peace, protection of human rights, a healthy economy, global cooperation and ecological justice.
Some people don’t vote for third party candidates, since they have less publicity and less of a chance to win. However, a vote for Cobb is valuable. All parties have to start somewhere, and the party is already making fast progress, with 212 Greens holding office and 430 candidates running in 2004. America is not a two-party system anymore. Votes should be cast based on one’s beliefs, and there are many reasons to believe in the Green platform.
Cobb is the only candidate who fully opposes preemptive war and supports the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Only the Green Party is willing to end this policy of blind incrimination that has put America at odds with the world.
The Green Party calls for the entire repeal of the Patriot Act because the government should not have the authority to supersede the Bill of Rights. Without the checks and balances set by the Constitution, there is no way to prevent irresponsible government actions. Cobb believes that Medicare should be available for everyone, not just those who can afford it. The $3 trillion dollar deficit can be reversed by cutting military expenditures and tax cuts.
America’s defense budget currently exceeds $425 billion. There is no need for 700 foreign military bases or 70,000 troops stationed in Central Europe. The Cold War is over. The Green Party wants to halve defense spending, eliminating unnecessary defense.
Greens believe in bringing the world together, not dividing it by fear. Cobb is the one candidate supporting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Non-Proliferation Treaty halting the spread of nuclear weapons and the Toronto Treaty banning land mines. He also supports joining the International Criminal Court and strengthening the United Nations.
Peace can exist in the Middle East as long as everyone is mindful of others. That means that exclusive support of Israel must be suspended until the Occupied Territories are returned and the separation wall dismantled. Incentives must be offered for peace and mutual security, as well as a commission to negotiate the sharing of natural resources.
Of course, Greens are also interested in preserving the environment. This involves encouraging organic agriculture, developing clean renewable energy technologies, phasing out nuclear waste production and entering international agreements to limit disruptive greenhouse gases. These types of agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol, have been around for years but rarely include the United States. Our leaders are usually too busy pocketing money from big businesses to think about saving the planet.
David Cobb and the Green Party differ greatly from other candidates, in part because they are not out to win a popularity contest. So on November 2, consider wandering past those two familiar names and explore what others have to offer.