You solemnly swear or affirm that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the state of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.

If you vote in Vermont, you have sworn, or "affirmed," to the Freeman's Oath, or, in P.C. Speak, the Voter's Oath. (I find it ironic that the new name dispenses with the word "free," and ignores the ancient history and etymology of the word "freeman," to say nothing of "man," but I digress.)

I want the self-avowed Lefties who love to hate us to do me one favor. Go to Ralph Nader's website and look at his "Issues Page." I know you just read the headlines, and I know you won't admit it, but struggle your hand to move the mouse. Do it. Should your carpal-tunnel allow it, click "Read More," when you're done reading the list. No, really. Read the list comparing McCain, Obama and Nader.

Read that list and tell me you really want Obama. Now ask yourself why you can't have Nader.

I take an oath religiously, you might say, and I vote "...as in my conscience," I judge for the "best good of the same," (i.e. VERMONT,) without "fear or favor of any person." This means I vote not out of fear of Bush and the Republican Menace, or for the "lesser of two evils," but for the best candidate. For Vermont. Period. In my humble opinion, that's been Ralph Nader for three presidential elections coming on four. (This will come as a surprise to some of you Leftist Inquisitors.)

You only hate Nader because you think he takes votes away from the "viable," candidate. But in your heart, you yearn for his policies. Why do you put up with this, decade after decade? It's because you're voting out of fear, and that's no accident. It's the perfect mechanism by which the wealthy, corporatist fascists keep you in check. Optimistic fatalism is a powerful thing, and there's a reason it's been culturally discouraged by the ruling classes since the days of feudalism.

Now. If you can break free of that fear and engage your optimism instead of your cynicism, you'll vote "as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good." For a while it will be candidates like Nader.

But one day, it will be for a Free Vermont.