For a long time, I have believed that real change is impossible within the US electoral system. I was lost and confused: all my life I have been taught the value and legitimacy of elections, and it is almost impossible to find alternatives. Being in Argentina has strengthened my rejection of the US electoral system and given me inspiration to begin fighting for change in the US.

My heightened rejection of electoral politics is rather ironic. Here in Mendoza, I joined Movimiento Sur, allied with Frente Amplia Progresista, (Broad Front for Progress) an aggregation of various left-wing political parties. Before coming to Argentina, I rejected electoral politics outright. Yesterday, I put a “Binner, Presidente” sticker on my water bottle. However, when I return to the US, I plan to organize a ballot bonfire for the 2012 presidentials.

A contradiction? NO, absolutely not. Let’s look at what happened in Argentina with Frente Amplia Progresista. It is founded on very alternative political ideas; an ideology “from below” in a world where almost everything comes from above: the construction of proposals in participatory rather than elitist manners, an approach that is not limited simply to electoral politics. It is a growing movement and Binner received 10% in the most recent presidential elections (the runoff election is coming up on October).

What is the logical conclusion for the US: that we can work through political parties. But, this conclusion is far too simple. The US is not Argentina. There is a vote, but only within the context of fascism. When two parties have absolute domination-have monopolized possibility, information, and the media-we can’t construct real change through parties and elections. In the US, third parties exist only in theory, only on paper. The system is designed in such a way that they can never become viable. That’s how it is now, and that’s how it will be until we construct something powerful from below, something which threatens the legitimacy of the electoral system, as the Spanish indignantes have done. Almost everywhere, third parties are 100% excluded and working through political parties would be futile.

Organize from below. Let’s construct our visions, our projects, our power. It will be difficult, and slow, but with tenacity, we can do it without a doubt.

A shoutout to those occupying Wall Street,

Enrique Gales