US ELECTION RESULTS BEST EVER FOR NLP!

Summary of achievements

The results of the US elections on 7 November have demonstrated the great strength of the Natural Law-Independent coalition as a national political force in the USA. Over 100 million Americans voted in the election, and Natural Law-Independent coalition candidates have received over 1.4 million votes nation-wide.

The average vote totals were 2.5%, with several candidates winning 10%-20% of the vote, and some winning 20%-30%. These are the highest average vote totals achieved so far in the USA. The highest percentages were Nancy Miller (Ohio: Green County Commissioner) with 30%; Kent Hyde (South Dakota: State Senate) with 23%; Ann Hope Vigorous (Idaho: State Assembly) with 22%; and Carlos Perez (Washington: State Assembly) with 20%.

As a result of these votes, the Natural Law Party has also won automatic ballot access for the next election in Montana, Utah and Oregon, and will maintain ballot access in California, Nevada, Colorado, Mississippi, South Carolina, Delaware, Vermont, Hawaii, and other states.

The Presidential race

The notable exception to these high percentages was the Presidential race, which was so close that many people were simply unwilling to cast their vote for a third-party candidate. All third-party Presidential vote totals (Nader, Buchanan, Browne, Hagelin, and Phillips) were severely suppressed, averaging 60% less than polls predicted even a few days before the election. The Natural Law-Independent coalition candidate, Dr John Hagelin, who had received 110,000 votes in 1996, received a similar number in this race, despite a significant increase in national support and exposure during the 2000 campaign.

However, John Hagelin succeeded in his effort to forge the largest coalition of third parties in US history. He won the nominations and endorsements of Ross Perot's Reform Party (minus the Buchanan wing) and the Independence Party of New York (America's largest third party). Governor Jesse Ventura, head of the Independence Party of Minnesota, also endorsed Dr. Hagelin's candidacy. This powerful political coalition will provide a solid foundation for future campaigns.

30 million receive letter

In addition, John Hagelin received a ringing endorsement from the largest organisation in America, representing 30 million Americans suffering from chronic diseases. This organisation sent out two glowing letters of endorsement to all its 30 million members, applauding Dr Hagelin's support for preventive and alternative medicine.

"The real victors in the race are the American people, who will benefit from the ideas we have brought into the political debate. People have been listening, and embracing our message," Dr Hagelin said. "Our job didn't end on election day. We will continue to work to broaden our coalition, to bring crucial solutions to America's pressing problems, and to achieve unlimited possibilities for ourselves and for our nation. We have laid the foundation for far greater successes in the coming years."

Two useless choices for President

Speaking on the world-wide satellite Maharishi Channel about the choice between Bush and Gore, Dr Bevan Morris (NLP Leader, Australia) commented that it makes little difference which of these two characters is US President. George W. Bush favours capital punishment, but fails to notice that his State has one of the highest murder rates, whilst other states with no capital punishment have only one third of the Texas rate. He also supports the National Missile Defence initiative which could start a new arms race and endanger the whole world population, even if it does not work. Al Gore on the other hand is the strongest bomber, having supported President Clinton in every foray with NATO. Both are also heavily indebted to the private interests that back their election campaigns.

Dr Morris said: "This is the way elections are run in the US: Whoever gives money to the media and buys advertising receives the most publicity, even if they have absolutely nothing to say. It is a great unfairness to life. It is the very definition of this system in the United States that has thrown up these two useless people to be the President of the most wealthy and powerful country in the world."