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"I'm voting for Nader!"
This is bound to ruffle the feathers of many people. Everyone's all about, "Vote for Kerry because he isn't Bush." I have yet to see any good reasons that Kerry would make a good president.
I won't vote for someone just to vote against someone else: to do so is a perversion of what I see as the spirit of what a democracy is. I need to have a reason to vote *for* someone; not having a good chance to win is poor reason to -not- vote for someone. I could just as easily vote for the Libertarian or Green candidate-- is that just as bad? Our political system is built around *choice*. You can choose to vote for whomever for whatever reason-- but don't denigrate me for exercising my right to choose.
Two further things: the election is almost half a year away and a lot can happen between now and then. Second, I never reveal whom I voted for. I've voted in every single election since I could vote and I vote for the people I believe in. That's more than a lot of people can say.
I won't vote for someone just to vote against someone else: to do so is a perversion of what I see as the spirit of what a democracy is. I need to have a reason to vote *for* someone; not having a good chance to win is poor reason to -not- vote for someone. I could just as easily vote for the Libertarian or Green candidate-- is that just as bad? Our political system is built around *choice*. You can choose to vote for whomever for whatever reason-- but don't denigrate me for exercising my right to choose.
Two further things: the election is almost half a year away and a lot can happen between now and then. Second, I never reveal whom I voted for. I've voted in every single election since I could vote and I vote for the people I believe in. That's more than a lot of people can say.
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Essentially let's say you have 3 candidates, A, B, and C (or N, K, and B :) Some folks like A's policies best, and are good with B's, but A is the better fit for them. They do not want C because they don't like the idea of him as a leader.
Ditto for the people who like B. They admire A's stand, but B is more in line with their ideals. Again, C is not an option for them.
The C folks, they don't like B at all, and don't want A either.
Now you can do the math in however you like, but let's say that 40% of the people like C, 35% like B, and 25% like A best of all. C wins the election, even though C is the 3rd choice of the majority of people who voted in the election. You could even make that narrower by saying 49% like C, 48% like B, and only 3% like A. Exact same outcome.
Now if you don't like B or C, and really like A, then by all means, vote for A and be happy with the outcome. Maybe A will get that 5% and be on the ballot next election, too.
However, if the thought of B as your president doesn't turn your stomach, then voting for A, especially if you know A has no true chance of winning, is only going to help C win.
On a different tangent, I am curious about this whole silent-vote process people have. My mom did the same thing, she would never tell someone who she voted for. I don't quite understand it myself, could you elaborate on why?
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My counter argument to the N-K-B argument is that if K (and his party) had actually done more to mollify the N-supporters, N wouldn't feel the need to run. Without N, or any other candidate, there is no impetus for K and his party to change. Buchanan did the same thing to the Republican party some years ago.
Kerry is quoted as saying, in answer to a question by Nader on energy policy, "Wait and see when I become president." That kind of rhetoric (by Kerry) is exactly what scares me about him.
Regarding the silent vote process: My hat goes off to your mom! The reasoning behind not revealing your vote is exactly why the ballots are anonymous. One should never feel pressure to vote because of peer pressure; the act of voting should be of one's own mind-- one of the few times in our lives we have that privilege.
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I dream some days that Kerry picks McCain as his VP, and McCain accepts, but the odds of *that* happening.... I have die-hard Republican friends who are upset that they don't have anyone they feel they can vote for in the upcoming election. I'm moderate enough that I'll deal with Kerry, I don't think he'll be the best president, but he'll be better than Bush.
Good reasoning on the anonymous ballot issue :) I'm willing to entertain a certain degree of discussion about politics, but it's a very heated issue, and rarely can be discussed civilly for so long. Some folks just don't have the time or desire to get into such discussions.
No matter who you finally vote for, so long as you have a good reason to vote for that person, is fine. That you've gone out and voted is enough for me.
Vote! Vote! Vote!
My feelings about voting were fostered by my parents, who made me understand the right/privilege/importance of a single vote (one's own). Very immigrant-minded.
While I may not care for who is elected, I still support their legitimacy.
Re: Vote! Vote! Vote!
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Don't we average about a 15 to 20 % turnout in most elections.. if that? And even on an LJ post which, in very rare case, I humbly pleaded for responses to a particular entry, just to get a at least a brief comment from everyone, I only got a 30% response *sniffle*.
Marx-ism?
Heh, that sounds a lot like Grouch Marx as Rufus T. Firefly in "Duck Soup"...
o/~
The last man nearly ruined this place
He didn't know what to do with it
If you think this country's bad enough now
Just wait 'til I get through with it!
o/~
Drop me a note off LJ if you can, I try to keep my political viewpoints away from this forum as much as possible, bud I'd like to give you my thoughts on this matter privately. That is, if you don't mind.