Are you voting for the person who has your interest at heart? Are you making an educated vote or just following the money and power? by J.Wright
(libertarian)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Well it is officially campaign season in the realm of politics. In 2012 we not only have the local elections but, also a presidential election. I am sure many of you have already seen the advertisements and have heard about the debates and so forth on all the media outlets. Many people already know who they want to vote for and that is perfectly acceptable, if you have done your homework and understand the candidates to the best of your ability. Everyday I see endless rants about this or that candidate (which is okay with me), the problem is that everyday people are switching the candidate in which they claim to support. Of course everyone is entitled to the right to change their own mind but, make sure you have your mind made up before supporting a particular candidate.
I have seen multiple people publicly support one candidate, another the next day, and yet another a week later. When I see individuals support Bachmann, Santorum, and then Romney, all before the Iowa caucus, it tells me that person did not do their homework on the candidates to begin with. Why else would someone say they want the most conservative candidate and publicly support Mitt Romney? Or speak against the Patriot Act and vote for a candidate that supports such a bill? Perhaps these people are the same that jump from the bandwagons of one sports team to another based on their recent performance. Maybe these people have a fear of not fitting in with a certain crowd or perhaps they just lack the ability to make decisions for themselves. Perhaps some are afraid, to take a stand for something, because of what others may or may not think of them.
Either way you look at it, these very same people play a hand in forming the political debacle we witness in all levels of government today. It seems as if people vote based on whom they think can win not, who they want to win. People just want to pick the winner, and be able to say they picked the winner, more than they want to vote for someone who supports their interest or views. It is a lot like the Royals fan that placed a $50 wager on the Yankees to win. They chose the team with the money, power, and financial support instead, of going with their heart. The only problem is that our elected officials are not baseball teams. There is no financial payout for picking the winner of an election. So why do people vote as if there is a reward for “being on the winning team”? Why would one waste their right to vote by trying to be popular?
Switching support, for political candidates (of any level) on day to day basis, shows that either one has made an uneducated decision or that one continues to make uneducated decisions. That is not to say because one has made an uneducated decision in the past they lack the ability to change their mind and make an educated decision now or in the future. I do not say these things in a way to insult anyone or to discredit anyone but, only in attempt encourage these people to stand on their own merits and not those of which they do not believe or the ones they are told to believe.
I suspect, that fear has much to do with the voting habits of many Americans. The way we as people assess danger or fear affects our voting habits. Generally we have the two main (party) candidates and we vote for the one we fear the least sometimes, ignoring the right to vote for a third party individual who may offer less to fear. Why would we do this as a nation? We have been told for many decades that there are only two options and one is right and one is wrong…pick one. Has anyone ever thought that they both could be wrong? I know what many of you are thinking…”I am not going to waste my vote on someone who will not or cannot win”. I would declare that you are wasting your vote if you vote for someone you really do not believe in. The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend and yet many, vote as if it is.
In closing I just ask that all people ask themselves one question: why do I support ______ (the candidate of your choice). You do not need to make your answer public but, if it is because a friend, family member, political party, religion, or special interest group has told you to do so… please reevaluate all the candidates and your personal feelings and beliefs before walking into the voter’s box.
Exercise your rights before you vote them away.
For true liberty to exist, tolerance must exist first.
If no man infringes on or causes you no harm; you shall infringe on or cause harm to no man.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of J.Wright only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
J.Wright is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
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