Well, neither are "my" Party, but....

 

Many Republican politicians are socialists, and basically all Democrat politicians are socialists.  That's why no one should ever vote for a Democrat, and in many cases not vote for a Republican, either.  Often the only hope for electing non-socialist politicians is to cut them off during the primaries.  In the races where that isn't successful, vote for a Constitution Party or Libertarian Party candidate instead.  After all, according to Darth, the Obamination and Democrat congressmen can't really screw us up all that bad since they still have to deal with Congress and answer to the people (or some such rationale, I forget your exact words), so why not vote for a good guy instead of the lesser of two evils (or in the case of Democrats, the greater evil)?

 

 

Because I PERSONALLY believe that would be throwing away my vote. I prefer to vote for someone who actually has a chance to win. So if there are 3 sides running but only 2 have any real chance. I'll vote for the side I think will best represents me and has a chance to win. Even if there was a DarthAmerica is god party I still wouldn't vote for it because I'd be the only guy wasting his time. I don't like to waste my time.

 

-DA

 

 

 

 

I admit I failed to finish my argument.  Voting is never a waste of time, regardless of the outcome--but I agree if you only look at the impact of voting for the best man in the current election in light of the safe assumption that very few other voters will decide to "waste their time" in this same current election, then you won't be voting for the winner.  I assert that if even just a fairly small minority of voters (like maybe just 10%) would resolve to vote for the best man each election, every election, even though they know he won't win... this time... the impact on the system will be substantial.  Furthermore, I am certainly referring to other national, state, and local elections moreso than to the presidential election, as they are easier to affect and actually gain a victory in.  Gaining some victories should then be positive feedback to more people to actually vote for the best man rather than the Republicrat.  The current "two" party Republicratic stranglehold can not be broken without taking a long-term approach.  Once again, if you acknowledge it is typically a matter of Tweedledee or Tweedledum, then not voting for either really doesn't make much difference, so why worry about whether you managed to vote for the guy who won or his political twin who lost, anyway?  Who's keeping score over how many of the guys you voted for won v. how many lost?  It won't change until people start changing it.

 

I said personally so as not to imply that another person is wasting their time. That is my view of my actions. Also, I don't see it as lose lose. The guy I vote for will benefit me in ways I care about or at least not hurt me in ways the other guy would.

 

-DA

You should always vote, even if it is just because it makes the candidates nervous.  The more voters that there are, the more people they feel they have to appease.

 

And a vote for a 3rd party is not a waste.  Any candidate that wins with less than plurality is on borrowed time, and if either of the major parties comes in 3rd in an election there will be serious questions asked. 

 

Both the Republicans and the Democrats have been pulled to opposing extremes because of the dynamics of a 2 party system.  Fortunately, it looks like the public is starting to reject this vision and voting for moderate candidates, instead of the party anointed, at least in the primaries.  What we really need are fewer candidates running unopposed.

You are kept chained in a concrete cell. Every day two guards come in, one has a rubber truncheon and the other braided electrical wire. They give you a choice each day of which will beat you, and if you don't choose they will flip a coin.

 

Do you waste your vote and tell them to fuck themselves, or do you pick your punishment.

 

The choice between Democrat and Republican is a choice of which rights you will lose. Or sometimes which you will lose first, or even merely what the law will be called that takes your rights. If I vote for either I am accepting that violation. I am endorsing it. I am welcoming it. I refuse.

 

You can make your own choice.

...at least in this Presidential election. I'd considered voting for McCain even though he is a statist on a foreign policy basis, but I'm hoping Obama will screw up bad enough to generate a backlash and maybe push the GOP to do something akin to the election of 94. That would be a real choice.

 

Other than that I can fantasize about the Libertarians staging a jail break...

Jeff,

 

I seem to remember you being much more pro-GOP and/or pragmatically oriented back during primary season when people here were discussing Ron Paul.  I applaud what appears to be something of a change in emphasis in you.