THE BEST RALLYING POINT for this discontent, the most meaningful protest vote, is for Barry Commoner, candidate for the Citizens' Party. Unlike his doctrinaire chums on the left--Socialist candidate David McReynolds or Communist standard-bearer Gus Hall--Commoner is neither closed-minded nor inflexible. And he is serious enough a candidate to be on the ballot in more than 40 states (Massachusetts, with its hyper-strict ballot access requirements, is not on the list; Bay State supporters will have to write in for Commoner).
What Commoner shares with others on the left is a willingness to identify the roots of America's economic woes. The Citizens' Party approach to progressivism, emphasizing increased government control though not ownership of major industries, recognizes the pervasive power of large corporations as a major enemy to our peace, security and well-being.
More than any other candidate in the race, Commoner understands the energy quandary that will determine America's course in the next two decades. A strong opponent of nuclear power, Commoner has the expertise and the data to make credible his claims that solar energy and other alternative energy sources could supply much of our power.
Commoner's advocacy of a reduced military, an end to our support for and partnership with the world's oppressors, and the peaceful, not prideful, solution of world problems, make him the most reassuring choice to guide the country. And no one has been more outspoken in support of two of the forgotten issues of the last few years--civil rights and the environment. Closer to home, Cambridge residents should note Commoner's attention to the problems of condominium conversion and gentrification that threaten this city as well as many others.
The list of Commoner supporters is a good cross section of American progressivism; William Winpisinger, head of the Machinists Union, for example, represents true trade unionism in a year when the Teamsters have thrown their weight behind Ronald Reagan. And Commoner's running mate, LaDonna Harris, is a gifted representative both of American women and American minorities. In short, the Citizens' Party represents an enlightened future.
And so, tired of political parties too heartless to help the poor, scared of leaders hellbent on the nation's and the world's destruction, and yet full of hope for a cooperative and peaceful future, we urge the rejection of Carter, Reagan and Anderson. The answer to the president's question is simple: Commoner and his Citizens' Party are the best choice, and they deserve support.