Throwing away your vote

Some call it Throwing away your vote

Some call it 3^rd party voting

Some call it voting their conscience.

Regardless of how you call it,    THAT’S ME!!!

Why do I vote my conscience when so many of my friends and neighbors accuse me of throwing away my vote or supporting the “enemy” candidate?

This year, I circled on my ballot

·      an Independent American Party candidate,

·      2 Constitution Party candidates

·      republicans,

·      a democrat,

·      an unaffiliated,

·      NO on all judicial retentions

·      and even a write-in candidates. 

Why oh why would I do that?

Because I do my research and vote for the best option rather than trust a for-profit political machine, er, uh, I mean party, er, uh, I mean “group of people I have never met” to pick my candidate for me. 

George Washington feared the rise of political factions.  He felt that political parties threatened liberty and undermined the promise of a republican government.  In his farewell address he warned, “Let me now warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Parties.  Popular parties (think of the 2 most powerful today) are seen in their greatest rankness and are truly the peoples worst enemy”

We can see this has already come to fruition today because so many people say, “we don’t discuss politics or religion”.  I submit that it is because the poison has already entered our ranks.  We have lost the art of discussing different views with civility and respect and many rely solely on their party leadership to choose for them. 

Who elects party leadership anyways? Do we know who elected the party leaders we follow, copy, and trust?  

George Washington goes on to say, “The alternate domination of one party over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, is itself a frightful despotism and leads to a more permanent despotism.  The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual: the chief of one prevailing party.”

 So, why do I vote my conscience rather than mindlessly voting straight republican ticket?      3 Reasons

1)      Sometimes my vote for the alternate candidate is a “vote of no confidence.”  I know the other guy will win, but I don’t want it to be a landslide.  I don’t want them to think we all love what they are doing.  I want them to see that some of us are really unhappy with their policies and decisions.  They need to see that when they view their poll numbers. 

2)     I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a person who repeatedly defies their party platform, joins opposing ideals, endorses opposing party candidates, and mocks his own party delegates with name calling and mockery.  I know this kind of person will get many votes from the “straight party ticket” voters, but I cant help but wonder, Who in their right mind would support that?  Nah, I research all the candidates, interview and listen, watch voting records, watch how they behave under stress and when confronted with unconstitutional ideas and make my choice based off those observations.  I don’t care much about what letter is behind their name on the ballot. 

3)     George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and 3% of the population all voted 3^rd party when they declared independence from Great Brittain.  Abraham Lincoln was the 1^st Republican President.  At the time, he was a 3^rd party candidate.  Would you consider those voters as “throwing away their vote”?  Not me.  I think those voters were tired of the status quo.  They wanted change.  I respect these voters’ efforts to think for themselves and choose something better.  It takes time to affect change, and I’ve got time.   I will make honorable votes in the meantime

Bleat like a little goat

And vote for the red coat

Or throw away your vote

& wear it like an armored coat.

How do we change the status quo? How do we affect change? Everyone does it differently.  Thomas Jefferson said it soft and quietly, John Adams said it loud and glaringly.  John Calhoun was direct and forceful; Harriot Tubman was action oriented.  Some just go with the flow regardless of its direction.  Deborah Palmer will share with us one of her methods that she employs.  She hopes to help her audience better understand the uncomfortable but growing movement.