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Title: Voting for a Third Party Candidate Is NOT a Wasted Vote
Source:
Washington's Blog
URL Source: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012 ... e-is-not-wasting-our-vote.html
Published: Nov 2, 2012
Author: WashingtonsBlog
Post Date: 2012-11-02 16:44:43 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 316
Comments: 24
Preface: Many Americans are waking up to the fact that the Republican and Democratic candidates are incredibly similar. Many people are starting to realize that Obama and Romney are virtually indistinguishable on war, jobs, freedoms and favoring fatcats instead of the little guy. Judge Napolitano explained today why voting for a third party is not wasting one’s vote: Can one morally vote for the lesser of two evils? In a word, no. A basic principle of Judeo-Christian teaching and of the natural law to which the country was married by the Declaration of Independence is that one may not knowingly do evil that good may come of it. So, is a vote for [a third party] or no vote at all wasted? I reject the idea that a principled vote is wasted. Your vote is yours, and so long as your vote is consistent with your conscience, it is impossible to waste your vote. On the other hand, even a small step toward the free market and away from … central economic planning would be at least a small improvement for every American’s freedom. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The liberal former chief aide to progressive Congressman Alan Grayson – Matt Stoller – agrees. After demonstrating how similar Obama and Romney are on most major issues, Stoller concludes: I think it’s worth voting for a third party candidate, and I’ll explain why below. There are only five or six states that matter in this election; in the other 44 or 45, your vote on the presidential level doesn’t matter. It is as decorative as a vote for an “American Idol contestant.” So, unless you are in one of the few swing states that matters, a vote for Obama is simply an unabashed endorsement of his policies. But if you are in a swing state, then the question is, what should you do? The people themselves, what they believe and what they don’t, can constrain political leaders. And under Obama, because there is now no one making the anti-torture argument, Americans have become more tolerant of torture, drones, war and authoritarianism in general. The case against Obama is that the people themselves will be better citizens under a Romney administration, distrusting him and placing constraints on his behavior the way they won’t on Obama. As a candidate, Obama promised a whole slew of civil liberties protections, lying the whole time. Obama has successfully organized the left part of the Democratic Party into a force that had rhetorically opposed war and civil liberties violations, but now cheerleads a weakened America …. We must fight this thuggish political culture Bush popularized, and Obama solidified in place. But can a third-party candidate win? No. So what is the point of voting at all, or voting for a third-party candidate? My answer is that this election is, first and foremost, practice for crisis moments. Elections are just one small part of how social justice change can happen. The best moment for change is actually a crisis, where there is actually policy leverage. … Saying no to evil in 2012 will help us understand who is willing to say no to evil when it really matters. And when you have power during a crisis, there’s no end to the amount of good you can do. How do we drive large-scale change during moments of crisis? How do we use this election to do so? Well, voting third party or even just honestly portraying Obama’s policy architecture is a good way to identify to ourselves and each other who actually has the integrity to not cave to bullying…. We need to put ourselves into the position to be able to run the government. After all, if a political revolution came tomorrow, could those who believe in social justice and climate change actually govern? [If we had had more courage, we could have] reorganized our politics. Instead the oligarchs took control, because we weren’t willing to face them down when we needed to show courage. So now we have the worst of all worlds, an inevitably worse crisis and an even more authoritarian structure of governance. The reason to advocate for a third-party candidate is to build the civic muscles willing to say no to the establishment in a crisis moment we all know is coming. Right now, the liberal establishment is teaching its people that letting malevolent political elites do what they want is not only the right path, it is the only path. Anything other than that is dubbed an affront to common decency. Just telling the truth is considered beyond rude. We can do this. And the moments to let us make the changes we need are coming. There is endless good we can do, if enough of us are willing to show the courage that exists within every human being instead of the malevolence and desire for conformity that also exists within every heart. Systems that can’t go on, don’t. The political elites, as much as they kick the can down the road, know this. The question we need to ask ourselves is, do we?
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#1. To: X-15 (#0)
I voted GaryJohnson2012.com - Live Free...so can many of you.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken I voted many an election. NOTHING HAS EVER CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. My conscience tells me the system is rigged, the owners win, the rubes lose, this Rube says no more.
No, your intellect tells you that. Your conscience should be saying, get off your ass and vote GaryJohnson2012.com Live Free with a clear conscience that you did all that you could do. No lesser of two evils for you! “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken ping
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1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." bible.cc/1_corinthians/10-21.htm Ezekiel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. 8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. 10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. bible.cc/ezekiel/9-4.htm / kingjbible.com/ezekiel/9.htm Revelation 7:2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: Revelation 7:3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Revelation 9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. "...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speech http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
My thoughts exactly. NOT voting is giving the GOP and democrats the signal that people don't care either way who wins. By voting for a decent third party candidate, it tells them not only do you not want to vote for either one of the "two party system" candidates, you have taken a stand and voted for someone who has principles. If ENOUGH people could do that, there'd be a strong chance that over time, a third party WOULD be viable and COULD win an election. They said that about Ron Paul. All that money and effort was a total waste. When a mans conscience will no longer allow him to be a part of such a criminal enterprise, it is time to to stop spitting into the wind. This country was born of a revolution and only a second revolution will restore it. No revolution, this country is on its deathbed, with the citizens pointing fingers as to who caused it. It has taken a hundred years to arrive at our present stake of terminal health. No one man, no one vote will change anything as the sytrem is rigged and those playing by others rules are only fooling themselves. Everyone in Washington must go, there is no other way.
We have to understand that there will be 130 MILLION citizens out there that will vote KNOWING THERE ARE TWO PARTIES TO VOTE FOR. It is not the lazy shiftless idiots that do not vote that are killing us, IT IS THOSE THAT DO THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY, 130 million strong that are putting us in chains. There are 90 million of us that do not vote, indeed we are stupid, shiftless, ignorant or whatever, BUT IT IS...NOT... US THAT HAVE KEPT THIS GOVERNMENT IN CONTROL. Americans need to do the math, majority rules.
I've always prefered doing the right thing instead of just "going with the flow". At least I can in good conscience know that I tried. It IS quite sad that our nation has become a land of idiots and crooks. People in Europe and Asia are more educated, better informed, and don't sit on their hands complaining about how awful things are. The huge majority sat on their hands during the first revolution, roughly 23 per cent did the fighting and dying. This time around perhaps 140 million Americans will find some reason FOR voting, FOR LEGITIMIZING THIS CORRUPT SYSTEM THAT IS PUTTING US IN CHAINS. The men that own the system must have a good laugh every four years because the programmed masses hurry to the polls and do their duty. I did, no more.
Yeah, in Europe you have a bunch of white folks that have some sense of cultural identity, social solidarity and political awareness. However, the devious political class that rules them is pretty crafty and manages to keep them all tied up in knots. For example, the Belgians would like to hang the pedophile Eurocrats that are running that nation into the ground from the nearest lamppost, but they can't get them off their necks. The Germans know that something smells big time with all the gold that they have on deposit in New York, but their politicians and lamestream ridicule the concerns they have about 3600 tons of gold in New York that their representatives are not even allowed to inspect. The Europeans are just as beset by idiots and crooks as we are, and they are fully as incapable of doing anything about the situation as those of us across the Big Drink. I as well. This afternoon. Not a straight Libertarian ticket, pretty close though. But my true sentiments are closer to this: I cannot help 130M morons to get off their mainly uninformed asses and vote. You know better. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken Mine neither. Yet we're "trusting" electric votes to be counted in Espana...come'on. It is a joke, on US. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken The only wasted vote is voting for a new massa you hopes is gonna set you free.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
Thats right, majority rules. The prior majority wanted to keep the King, it took the MINORITY to bring down the system. If it happens again, it will be the FEW that do it, the majority will do NOTHING. They will not even desist from supporting and legitimizing our owners.
Come'on. Suck up and sack up for one more rodeo, while you can. Have some fun. GaryJohnson2012.com - Live Free At least lettem know that you're aware of the concept. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken No more band wagons, no last rodeo, no more Pied Pipers, no more slick politicians of any stripe. Will listen to a man of action, one that talks the talk, walks the walk, a man that names names of the criminals and PUSHES THE ESTABLISHMENT TO THE WALL, CALLING FOR ACTION. In 1939/40 we had such men, now we have none. Everyone wants to play nice, play within the system. That wont work. There are no risk takers, vote, walk civilly to the gallows.
Whatever. Your choice. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken A vote for Gary Johnson is a free poke in the eye to the demoflakrudicans. Don't cost nothin... "I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
True and not wasted but still is participation in a process that is stacked in the dealers favor. Akin to playing poker when you know the dealer is using marked cards.
Upon further reflection, casting a ballot in any US election probably costs taxpayers somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 (edit: per vote), based upon every other government statistic I've seen since 1983. In a way, I'm glad I never got picked up off the streets and fed an eggamuffin and told who to vote for.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
If one stops to reflect upon the system, it is apparent that there is no choice when voting for one of two people. The system has been flawed from day one. The people with money and power realized that fact and took advantage of it. The fact remains, if you participate in the system, you become part of it. Ron Paul chose to remain within the system twice, this time had he gone third party, he would have exceeded Perot. We have no voice, no leader and the majority go with the system.
So you no longer hate white people? Cool!!! "I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#2. To: X-15 (#0)
consistent with your conscience, it is impossible to waste your vote.
#3. To: Cynicom, 4 (#2)
My conscience tells me the system is rigged, the owners win, the rubes lose, this Rube says no more.
#4. To: X-15, *libertarians* (#0)
#5. To: Lod (#3)
#6. To: X-15 (#0)
Voting for a Third Party Candidate Is NOT a Wasted Vote
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#7. To: Lod (#3)
Your conscience should be saying, get off your ass and vote GaryJohnson2012.com
#8. To: FormerLurker (#6)
If ENOUGH people could do that, there'd be a strong chance that over time, a third party WOULD be viable and COULD win an election.
#9. To: Cynicom (#8)
Americans need to do the math, majority rules.
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#10. To: FormerLurker (#9)
It IS quite sad that our nation has become a land of idiots and crooks. People in Europe and Asia are more educated, better informed, and don't sit on their hands complaining about how awful things are.
#11. To: FormerLurker (#9)
It IS quite sad that our nation has become a land of idiots and crooks. People in Europe and Asia are more educated, better informed, and don't sit on their hands complaining about how awful things are.
#12. To: Lod (#1)
I voted GaryJohnson
the quality of a man’s life is directly proportionate to
his commitment to excellence.’
#13. To: Cynicom (#8)
#14. To: Buzzard (#12)
#15. To: X-15 (#0)
#16. To: Lod (#13)
I cannot help 130M morons to get off their mainly uninformed asses and vote.
#17. To: Cynicom (#16)
#18. To: Lod (#17)
#19. To: Cynicom (#18)
#20. To: Cynicom (#18)
#21. To: Dakmar (#20)
Don't cost nothin...
#22. To: Cynicom (#21)
(Edited)
#23. To: Dakmar (#22)
#24. To: Cynicom (#23)
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