Students should vote their consciences

Campaigning for Ralph Nader, I often hear the same thing from disillusioned voters: "I think Nader is the best candidate, but he's not going to win. Isn't a vote for Nader a wasted protest vote, or worse, effectively a vote for Bush?" \nAdmittedly, there is no real chance of Nader winning the election, especially since he has been excluded from the presidential debates. There is, however, a very real chance of Nader getting 5 percent of the popular vote nationwide. This would qualify the Green party for federal matching funds in 2004. \nThere is no real chance of Gore winning Indiana's electoral votes. Indiana's votes have not gone to a Democrat since the 1964 Johnson landslide. In this state, a vote for Gore is wasted, while a vote for Nader might do some good. Nader's candidacy might also bring out some of the many Americans who usually don't bother to vote. These people will help elect a more progressive Congress. Since the Senate must approve Supreme Court appointments, this will affect the makeup of the court. \nFinally, there is the question of whether there is still any significant difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Both candidates favor the death penalty. Both parties accept outrageous donations from giant corporations -- Microsoft recently gave $1 million dollars to each. They return the favor with corporate welfare kickbacks and with international agreements for corporate-controlled trade, with little regard for labor rights or the environment. Yes, a Bush administration would be an awful thing, but a Gore administration wouldn't be that much better. This November, vote your conscience, not your fears.\nPeter Drake\nGraduate student