The New Mexico Independent Party has announced on June 23rd that they have chosen Rocky Anderson as their presidential nominee. Anderson, who served two terms as the mayor of Salt Lake City and is the Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights, has been active in issues such as criminal justice, climate and immigration reform, LGBT rights, ending the ‘war on drugs’ and various human rights causes. Having been previously announced as the Justice Party nominee, this new nomination effects the election in New Mexico, where the Justice Party is not on the ballot
A long time critic of the two-party system Anderson has said: “We join together in this endeavor for the sake of justice — social justice, environmental justice and economic justice.”
The Independent Party was ballot-qualified in 2008, due to receiving .64% (over one half of 1%) of the votes for presidential nominee.
Marc Black, co-chair of the NMIP has stated: “Rocky Anderson should appeal to many New Mexicans who want to make a difference in this election. His philosophy is economic, environmental, and social justice. He has devoted his entire life to working for these goals.”
In a country where independent parties are over looked, it’s important to keep aware. The dismissal of a third (or fourth, fifth etc) option is what keeps democracy from working at its best. There should not merely as a choice between two ‘mainstream’ options, but a myriad of choices that allow those who have differing and unique opinions to have a voice that is not limited to the confine of those backed financially.
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New Mexico makes sense. Idaho does not.