Anybody out there?

I don't really fit into any one "political party."

At the same time, I feel very strongly about my civic responsibilities to vote and to hold our government accountable.

That being said... I'm ultra-frustrated (as usual) at my options for next year. Will my ideal candidate ever appear?

I want to put someone in office who's not afraid to propose drastic changes (to everything). Our "system" is obviously not working - I'm afraid that merely "reforming" it won't do. I want someone who's going to cut government spending on those taking advantage of my tax dollars. I am in no way saying that we should get rid of public welfare systems - but at some point the argument for spending which benefits "the good of society" must give way to the realization that such readily available handouts clearly aren't doing our society any "good." "Good" would be motivating our fellow citizens to compete for a position in the work force, not encouraging unemployment and laziness. Yes, I want my taxes to help others. I want our nation to work together, even economically...  but I'm tired of leading the upcoming generation in the wrong direction. I know several people in that narrow socioeconomic margin (it should be termed limbo) who make the bare minimum, work their tails off at multiple jobs, pay their own rent, buy their own groceries, make responsible choices about family planning and try their best to contribute to the community rather than be a "burden" to it - and yet these very same people are the ones "making too much." They are denied health care funds while their neighbors, sitting at home all day, are able to take themselves and their many children to a doctor sans charge. For years... and years... and years.

What happened to working hard?

I want a candidate who is, above all, serious about the environment. If the government is to regulate anything, it should be related to taking care of this quickly-diminishing resource we call "earth." Yes, I believe our climate is in crisis - global warming is, in my opinion, irrefutable. However, I have not yet been exposed to overwhelming evidence that climate change is directly related to carbon emissions. While it would certainly appear that way, looking at the climate history of the earth... this place is so prone to change and more change and back again that there's just no telling whether the current trend would've happened regardless. Despite this uncertainty, we should be competing to perfect clean energy forms. Yes, alternative fuels would decrease (and hopefully, one day, eliminate - once we can get rid of these nasty plastics) our dependence on the foreign oil market - but to me, that's just a nice side effect. Bottom line: stop being stupid. If we don't take care of the earth, it's not going to take care of us. Any candidate supporting additional drilling is completely off of my roster. Being the most powerful, intelligent species in the world comes with a responsibility to be good stewards of our resources and our fellow species - it's not a green light to overconsume, nor is it a ticket to exploit other species or to interfere with their habitats. Biggest. pet. peeve. ever. Anyway... and I'm serious when I say this - government-mandated recycling. Cut the war budget, bring our troops back home, stop trying to overhaul a culture that's entirely different than our own - and put that money toward social education programs and incentives that teach citizens and corporations how to reduce our negative impact on the environment.

I want a candidate who's willing to do everything in his/her power to decrease our dependence on China, for a myraid of reasons (concern for human/animal rights, cheap/easily dispensable products, TAKING JOBS FROM AMERICANS...).

I want a candidate who'll promise to take a second, third, and hundredth look at our justice system. Get it together, Congress - this "good behavior" thing is down right sinful. I'm not sure that we, as humans, are justified to end another human being's life - but to dishonor the victims who've been kidnapped and raped and mutilated and murdered by releasing their killers is just about the most nauseating thing I've EVER heard of.

I want a candidate who's going to stop focusing so much on "the war on drugs" and who'll spend that time creating ways to intrinsically motivate our nation as a whole to make better choices.

I know it's unrealistic, but I haven't completely given up hope. If anyone knows of such a candidate, please let me know. Until then I'll be living under a giant rock via sustenance farming with all of the endangered species.

Peace.