Topic: Election 2008
To Waste a Vote Once again tonight we were given the choice of watching two candidates' voice their opinions. The nation's media outlets were focused on the third Presidential Debate with candidates representing the Republican and Democratic Parties. Did you learn anything new that swayed you toward one man or the other?by Gary Wood
(conservative libertarian)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
This has been our nation's formula for deciding the most powerful office we cast a vote for every four years. To run an ever increasing primary campaign and general election absent of any voice beyond a major party. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been given to the media for the commercial promotion of both parties. More blatant than ever, we are witnessing the buying of both the White House and Congress. H.L. Mencken said it best when he wrote, "under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed and are right."
These two showed again their inability to grasp fundamental facts shaping our present day challenges and forging our future generations weight of servitude to the government that was meant to be a government for the people. Both stand firm for their parties while denying any responsibility beyond the rhetoric of a government out of control. Each time we are fed the two party choice we are denied accurate accountability of those governing over us.
Did you hear your views? Were you represented in-depth by either of these two men? Was this series of debates, and the associated campaigns, ever willing to tell us the truth? Are these really viable representations of the majority of the people? Can you honestly look yourself in the mirror and say you are confident either man understands you and your family; your needs, your desires for government, your best interest and the best interest of friends and neighbors?
There is not a day that passes when someone I know doesn't admit they don't like either of these candidates. Unlike any time I can remember since I began my involvement in politics, back in 1972, have I listened too so many tell me neither seems to understand what our nation needs or wants. It is amazing how many are angry and frustrated with both major parties for the total lack of honesty and complete inability to recognize our Constitutional form of limited government and personal responsibility. It is no wonder there's a growing number registering Independent yet when election day comes who will vote independent of these two parties? Very few because we still cling to that fallacy of wasting a vote if we don't vote for one of the two "viable" candidates, candidates most likely to win.
We all want to be winners and we want those we support to win. Those who sell us the notion we waste our vote if we vote any other way but Republican or Democrat know this and play to this desire to win. Yet, have we been winning? Are we better off today for following this pattern for the past century and a half? Is casting a vote for the lesser of two evils delivering us anything more than evil in our government?
I have been told, by otherwise intelligent people, if I cast a vote for anyone other than McCain I am saying I want Obama to win. This false notion is sold in just the opposite manner by Democrats who say any vote not for Obama means you want McCain to win. Most of the people I talk with don't want either of them but because we fall victim to this type of failed logic one will rise to the White House and we shall continue to suffer long after my generation passes because the burden of our democracy will continue to grow under both major parties until we collapse.
George Washington explained government clearly. "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence - it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." In listening to these debates, and in following the congressional races, the rhetoric spoken by Democrats and Republicans has not been eloquent or reasonable. The irresponsible actions of our federal and state governments, under the two major parties, is more evident today than any other time in our history and still we fear we may waste a vote if we dare vote any other way.
WE the people were to be the keepers of the fire. We were put in charge of tending to it, insuring it would not rage out of control. We were given the powers of the juror and ballot box. We were given the powers of an Article V Convention. We were asked to stay alert and beware the force. Instead we allowed the fire to burn wild and it now burns the future of our unborn.
After Washington had passed away Jefferson wrote about his character and gave us some keen insight. "...he considered our new Constitution as an experiment on the practicability of republican government" and that he "had not a firm confidence in the durability of our government." This lack of confidence was directly tied to the fact we the people were the ones responsible to hold on to our republic. He didn't believe we would and we've proven him right. Instead of controlling the fire, instead of binding the government with the chains of the Constitution, we have held to a belief we must vote the lesser of two evils or be known as one who wastes a vote.
Ours passion for selecting a winner has blinded us to a point of accepting a representative democracy over a republic; socialized policies over personal responsibility and freedom. None of us alive today even know what it is like to live under the U.S. Constitution as it has become nothing more than part of the political rhetoric. We live in a land that turns to the government first rather than to the true elegance of association Alexis de Tocqueville witnessed in amazement during his time in the United States circa 1835. This would no doubt sadden but not surprise George Washington. Government is nothing but what the people select it to be and we consistently select a few, merely 535 federally, who care little for anything but the power and stature political office can provide.
Granted there have been, and are, some wonderful servants of the people among the politicians. Most are given little voice, often ostracized by their own parties for daring to cling to the old republic in a day when democracy has taken charge. It was Jefferson who warned, "dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit fools for the designs of ambition." As our dependence grows on the two-party government we've elected year after year their ambitions grow while virtue dies. Yet again this year we will stand strong by our convictions and, even though the majority of us are angry...even though most of us don't like these two candidates, we will vote for one of them rather than facing our fear of wasting our vote.
If it has ever been a time to change this attitude it is now. If we ever are to fully understand the insanity of this idea of wasting our vote it is now. If we are to have any hope in restoring the old republic and lay to rest our failed democracy this year is a good year to begin. Vote Obama or McCain if they truly represent you, if you truly believe in them, if they share your voice it won't be a wasted vote, it will be your duty.
On the other hand, if these two candidates and their parties make you anything but sure it is time to waste a vote! Spend the next few weeks studying the third-party alternatives and find one more closely aligned with your voice. Then step to the ballot box and waste a vote. Do this now and the next election you may just be voting for a winner and that winner will be our old republic as well as our future generations. Today it is your duty to waste a vote.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Gary Wood only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Gary Wood is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Gary, I've conscientiously examined my third-party alternatives and NONE of them represent me. I've always voted Libertarian, but the Presidential candidate is not a real Libertarian. How should I "waste my vote" properly?
Maria, that's a tough question to be sure. It is a sad day when we reach that level. I too have been a consistent LP voter the past 20 years but Barr isn't it. I'm not sure if it's proper, and your reply has me wondering, for me to vote for a party name, Constitution. I don't embrace all of Baldwin's politics but more of him than any other candidate yet is that a proper waste of a vote? (We really do need a 'None of the Above' selection!)
Although the name is more in line with my desire, restoration of the Old Republic, he is no Jeffersonian nor is Barr. The LP has had me frustrated since I was a candidate for Congress with them in '94. To this day there are more within the LP struggling for some internal control that they have forgotten to grow the party and help restore the Constitution...so much so that this year they selected Barr??!!
I like the idea of wasting my vote on a candidate representing a party as those votes actually tally otherwise I would write in a vote. Yet, if I'm to waste a vote should I say the heck with any of these parties and write in a name especially since I'm tired of all the parties? In a desire to really answer your question I feel I've only fallen into step with your dilemma.
I know there's never going to be a candidate or party I embrace completely. However, in the case of our presidential election I think I will cast it for the CP to show a larger tally next to the word Constitution. I'm really looking more closely at the state and local races where we can make an impact in 2008 and 2010 (we even have a couple of decent LP candidates) while hoping for a better third-party candidate to help develop for a strong 2012 push. I'll be very interested to learn how you decide to waste your vote, do share it with me.
Dear Gary, Thank you for your thoughtful reply. My husband and I, at this point, think we will not vote. To vote for President would be to participate in and give sanction to this degenerated process. The Constitution Party choice has some appeal to us. However, Baldwin and his party still believe that a person should not be free to put whatever he wants in his body. This is NOT liberty. This offends Constitutional concepts. I'm speaking of course about drug usage.
A friend of mine voted early in Nevada, and she wrote in "none of the above." Clever? Maybe. I don't know how write-ins score in elections. Do you?
We plan to vote for our local candidates, some of whom indeed represent our values within a republican/constitutional framework.
I enjoy your column and hope to read much more that you write.
No vote counts as nothing to the system, degenerated though it is. I believe the RNC/DNC would love it if most of us didn't vote. Write-ins are tricky as the idea someone will read it or even if the 'puter fangled machines will allow the option. I LOVE your friends efforts however. I'm so glad to see you are voting local, my fear is people refuse the vote for the Pres and just won't show up and it is locally we can start to break this disaster of a system tradition has locked around our necks.
Turn of fate and writing early...I couldn't do it, the CP scares me too much and Baldwin unimpressed me in the debates. I'm glad you like my column, come check out HMT, our radio show, and share it with others.
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