Forum Post: On wasting your vote
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 18, 2012, 4:57 p.m. EST by LetsGetReal
(1420)
from Grants, NM
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
article excerpt:
"There’s been a lot of angry posturing from Americans who think of themselves as progressive about how the purported political center in this country has been moving inexorably to the right, yet it’s these very people who are directly responsible for the shift. If you vote for a candidate whose farther right than you would prefer, well, then you’re shifting the political “center” to the right. Republicans aren’t responsible for the increasingly conservative face of the democratic party. Democrats are responsible for it. Democrats keep racing to the polls like lemmings being chased by the boogeyman."
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/10/12/on-wasting-your-vote/
What we need is a social shift to bring about the political shift.
The problem is with the fundamental two-party system in our country we have one candidate who believes the answer is in some happy make-believe world from the 1950's (or earlier) and doesn't get it, and the other who sort of half gets it, but just wants to get re-elected...well you know who I mean, of course....the answer is a candidate who DOES get it that the real 21st century world demands 21st century solutions...I am giving some serious thought of going with a third party candidate because of this...possibly the Green Party (certainly their platform is pointed in the right direction, at least in principle).
Time for a bedtime story. Sweet dreams... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SzrmwJC_kY&feature=player_embedded
I voted for someone who supports the death penalty in 2008. Never again. No more compromise on this. I'm aware that Obama is on the fence about this issue but there is no middle ground.
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Shit just got real.
Great post.
It's funny because I've seen people blame republicans for democrats support for wars. Joe Biden didn't believe in WMD's in Iraq because of Bush. It just so happens that both Bush and Biden are warmongers.
Obama didn't increase the war in Afghanistan because of republicans.... although the republicans more than supported it.
Obama isn't drone striking a bunch of countries because of the republicans.... although republicans more than support drone strikes.
Democrats didn't vote for the Patriot Act because republicans made them do it. They both support it.
Again great post. This guy tells it like it is. BLUNT
Politicians didn't bother to read the PA, except for one, because it had a catchy title. Feingold read it. Obviously he was too smart to be a politician so he's out of politics.
Feingold was the only one in the Senate. My main man Dennis Kucinich also voted NO in the House.
My favorite moment from 2008 -"You're the only one on stage who voted NO on the Patriot Act...Why is that?" to which Kucinich replies - "That's because I actually read it."
In 2008 on the debate stage Dennis Kucinich said - "I'm the only one on stage who voted against the war in Iraq and voted against funding it 100% of the time." He was on stage with Biden, Clinton, Obama, etc...
To this day I do not understand how people could watch this debate and not vote for Dennis Kucinich. Only man on stage who tried to impeach Bush and called for Bush's impeachment on stage on a broadcast going out to millions.
A simple litmus test on politicians is simply "do they support the patriot act?" I find that just about everyone who voted for this or supports it... has also voted in many other ways to damage our country. It's a great simple start on narrowing down who you want to support... of course always look further. But it's a great way to narrow the playing field.
Apparently, people get what they vote for. If they wanted less criminal politicians, they would vote for them, but they don't. They vote for what they want and don't care about anything else that doesn't significantly affect them. So, the drone attacks will continue. Cuts to social services will continue. Voter restrictions will continue. Criminal foreclosures will continue. Unaccountable, corporate bought, politicians will continue because the people are already getting what they want. Thus, there's no need for them to ever exercise any legal options http://occupywallst.org/forum/freeda-template/ for getting whatever they want. They're already getting the government that they deserve.
Just so we are clear, Counter Punch endorses Jill Stein.
Yes, but how much further right will we be if someone like Mr. Romney gets into office?
If Romney were to get into office because progressives rejected Obama and voted instead for Rocky Anderson or Jill Stein, we would end up much further to the left. A show of non support for another corporate democrat would stop the slide to the right and move the country left because either progressives will elect a third party candidate next time around, or the Dems will actually field a decent candidate. Corporate Dems in congress would start to get nervous too and move to the left.
but only after four years of crazy right.
Also, what you mention is only a theory. I think Anderson, Stein, and the Democratic progressives need to, and can, build more support even with Obama being re-elected. There are enough really pissed off people around.
I'd rather have four more years of crazy right than an indefinite continuation of the crazy right which we've had for at least 12 years now. It's well past time to do something different. Lesser evil voting is making things worse.
Lesser evil voting makes for less evil to contend with.
Either way, sounds like what we should all really be focusing in on is not this election, but the next one. Hopefully in one way or another we can make a candidate more progressive than Obama come about who has a viable shot at really becoming President.
Just because an alternative candidate won't win this time, doesn't mean votes for them won't matter. The more votes for an alternative party in this election cycle, the more likely we will see more real progressive candidates in the future and more progressive votes in congress right now. Future elections build on what happens this election.
And if Nader did not run - we would not have been blessed with bush-cheney-iraq-afgan-norquist-koch not to mention bachmann-west-walsh-gomert
It is sickening the way so called "progressives" have come to villify a tireless public servant like Nader.
I don't believe that progressives vilify Nader - I believe that corporations may well vilify Nader due to his work in consumer reports pointing out products that have safety and quality issues as well as pointing out unhealthy and unsafe industry practices.
Nader is loved and lionized by real progressives. Perhaps he meant Dems. vilify.
That may be, but we can't really blame poor Ralph he wasn't trying to hurt Gore.
I think Gore lost because of repub cheating. and Right wing SCOTUS corruption.
Bastards!
If Nader had not run, Florida likely would not have been close enough for the SCOTUS to even get involved.
Even so, with the perpetual corruption of both major parties it is important to support 3rd party candidates. Luckily, my state is not really a swing state so my vote for Stein won't really matter all that much. I will feel nice and warm inside though.
As long as you feel good!!
I'm gonna feel like shit but I intend to fight the corrupt broken system for change that benefits the 99%
Good luck in all you good efforts
Any which way you look at it Nader has been a voice for the people. That is what should ever be pointed out.
Just like the only make it or break it factor in this presidential election is - keep the corpoRATist sociopaths out of office.
Change for the better for the people and the world will come through elections for state and national representation in senate and congress.
To get away from a nebulous government as concerns the problems/ills of society it will take consistent/non-stop involvement in government of the people as the guiding force of government.
Protests. Growing. consistent, & specific.
Yes - organized like Move to Amend.
Now your talkin. Ambitious, take no prisoners.
We're ready for our close up.
Next!
agreed. keep fighting. one at a time. no retreat.
gotta be in it to win it.
They could even be run/pushed at the same time - different campaigns - or sections of campaigns.
Definitely, Move to amend, money out of politics 1st priority
Closely followed with one subject at a time legislation and removal of conflict of interest.
Ok, so then who are you campaigning for?
I'm supporting Rocky Anderson, but I am glad to see votes for any of the alternative party candidates.
Obama is far enough ahead in my state that I can write in Rocky Anderson, and still get lesser evil. like have my cake and eat it too...
Great strategy. Mine too.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/electoral-map
Good for you. Yes, most states are not swing states and that is a good opportunity to show support for the candidate you like best without fearing you will be helping the other party win.
And if willard wins we get 1-2 more scalias
roe v wade is gone
ACA is gone
taxes cut for 1% only
Yes, that's the lesser evil argument that has brought us to where we are now.
If Republicans can block Obama, then Dems can block Romney.
Honestly, that party isnt coming back. It was gone a long time ago, hence GATT and NAFTA. But if you really want to save it, putting it in time out is the best way.
You are not alone. You have choices. Democracy is dying. Try to save it.
Romney could get into office because 77% of this country identifies as moderate or conservative while only 21% identify as liberal or progressive. You seem to either be unaware of, or ignoring, the fact that many Dems are moderate and or conservative rather than progressive.
Right now Obama and Romney have roughly the same amount of voter support. If Obama lost 21% of those votes . . .that would change the game.
Good luck getting all 100% of that 21% to vote for the same person that is NOT President Obama.
It doesn't have to be the same alternative party candidate in order to have the effect of making a shift.
Ok....good luck getting 100% of the 21% to vote for anyone that is not President Obama. If indeed that whole 21% votes.
Thanks.
Counterpunch, one of the leading left gatekeepers? Government controlled dissent? Delineating acceptable lines of dissent?
Counterpunch is an anti-progressive, total fraud. Just like Amy Goodman, Noam Chomsky et al.
https://duckduckgo.com/html/?q=counterpunch%20left%20gatekeeper
They are frauds, they want Romney elected.
Any comment on the article or did you just want to attack Counterpunch?
The claim that "If you vote for a candidate whose farther right than you would prefer, well, then you’re shifting the political “center” to the right. . . . Democrats keep racing to the polls like lemmings being chased by the boogeyman." is propaganda (gracious, who wants to be a lemming) designed to elected Romney. Cui bono?
Nonsense.
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Yes! Republicans aren't responsible, they get a pass. It's all democrats fault.
I sure you have somehow found a way to blame republicans for the corporatist democrats.
No! No! Republicans are NOT responsible. They get a pass! It is all democrats fault.
Isn't that what you said? I am repeating.
No good?
The article I quoted said
I agree with that.
And I repeated. Whats the problem? Republicans good! Democrats bad!
I get it. You've been very clear!
You're Getting Real!! LOL
This is only true IF the purported political center actually HAS moved to the right. MANY angry American conservatives will tell you that the political center has been moving to the LEFT.