America needs a third party

To the Editor;

Bernie Sanders’ success showed how frustrated Americans – especially the young, engaged voters – are with rising inequality, stagnation of wages, unregulated financial markets, monopolistic corporations, unwavering support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, oppression of the press and drone warfare. Sanders says we should restore progressive taxation, offer a higher minimum wage, free health care and higher education. We need to add the best practices of socialism to our capitalistic system to improve it.

Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate for president, agrees with Sanders. Many of us who are disenchanted with the two corporate-controlled parties will vote for Stein, even though Democrats insist we should fear Donald Trump and vote for Hillary Clinton.

I recently watched the movie “Selma,” which depicts Martin Luther King Jr.’s push for voting rights. Though deeply disturbed after witnessing the brutal treatment of the people he led in the marches from Selma to Montgomery, King courageously continued on his path forward to provoke change, even when President Lyndon Johnson told him to hold back. He offered hope for those who dreamed of a better world.

Trump claims we should fear the immigrants and Islamists. Clinton claims we should fear Trump and vote for her. If our congressional leaders are truly concerned about their constituents, they will install rank-choice voting.

If enough citizens become engaged with the Green Party, we can create a movement intended to initiate positive change for Americans. We must finally stop allowing ourselves to be motivated by fear. America needs a third party.

Linda Bennett
Charleston