Voting Third Party

In light of conversations I’ve had (one way or another) with a few of my friends over the course of the past few days, I want to take this opportunity to explain (as best I can) that/why I am voting for a “Third Party” candidate in the upcoming election. I am doing this because based on the feedback that I have gotten each of the few times I have mentioned not voting for either John McCain or Barack Obama over the past few days, this decision is not a popular one.

The typical response that I get is probably the least logical, so I will start with that one. A vote for NOT John McCain, is NOT a vote for Barack Obama (however much some may want me to believe that it is). If I vote for a candidate that I do not like, to keep a candidate that I don’t like out of office, I have accomplished nothing. I want anyone reading this to know that I believe in democracy, and I love this country, and I say that to say that I do not believe that Democracy should include being told who I should or should not vote for, especially when NEITHER of the so-called options (as if I only have two) is worth my consideration, much less my vote. I will agree with anyone who says that Barack Obama is a lousy option, but to say that Senator Obama is somehow terrible enough to warrant voting for an equally lousy candidate in protest does not quite seem reasonable to me. I cannot take credit for the idea that choosing between two evils is still choosing an evil, but I would like to thank those who pointed this idea out to me, and I implore anyone reading this to consider the simple truth in the idea that voting for a candidate whose ideals I far from agree with in order to keep the less popular (in the circles I travel) candidate, whose faults are nearly identical in my eyes, out of office is a waste of my vote when I ideally have more than two candidates to choose from. I may agree with John McCain in a few more areas than I do Barack Obama, but why should that matter to me when I do not believe in the Federal Reserve, I do not believe in keeping American soldiers in over 130 countries (most of whom do not desire our presence, and considering we’ve done more harm than good in more than enough cases to warrant reconsideration) at a cost that most people are unaware of, I do not believe on wasting tax-payer money on things that should be considered private interests (and could be better looked after if regarded that way), I do not believe in (Federal) Income Tax (or weighted tax for those who insist on having it), and I was vehemently against that ridiculous bailout (just to name a few major areas of disagreement)? Those are not small disagreements. My political philosophy is based off of the idea that the above mentioned subjects are poorly handled by the United States Government (as it currently operates). Why would I choose John McCain or Barack Obama when they guarantee the American people they will continue to cause the same problems (problems-if you view those issues the way I do; if you don’t I apologize for the wording)? I have Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin, both of whom, on all of the above topics (and dozens of others), hold opinions that I consider to be far better reasoned, more immediately practical, and more beneficial considering their long-term implications.

Please understand, this is not an attempt on my part to convince anyone to vote the way I am choosing to. Were that the case, I would be dishing out more specific information on more specific issues. My point is to (hopefully) better express my reasoning for voting third-party in order to avoid future unpleasant conversations, or (in the less likely case) to benefit anyone who believes as I do (I am a Constitutionalist, and most anyone who knows me, knows where I stand on most issues, and if you don’t and are curious, ask) who is of the opinion (as I formerly was) that voting for a third-party candidate is a waste of a vote.

Speaking of which, after Dr. Ron Paul lost his opportunity to run for president on the Republican ticket, I adopted a very disappointed, resigned position of “I’ll vote for McCain to keep Obama out of office.” I am not sure what on earth made me think that McCain is any more worth my vote; I must admit that is pretty faulty thinking (for a Constitutionalist anyway). I remember recently telling a friend that I admired his persistent intention to vote for neither Obama or McCain because I “just didn’t want to feel like I was wasting my vote.” Upon examining that statement, I realized that I am really doing myself a dis-service in voting in that manner because doing so perpetuates this voter/media/government (yes we’re all to blame) system of voting between EITHER candidate rather than choosing a man (or woman) that I (we) believe is best suited for the job. I read that polls suggest upwards of 60% of voters are discontent with their “two” options. I know better than to embrace poll results as absolute, undiluted truth, but in talking to various friends and acquaintances of mine, I can’t imagine that figure being far from accurate. With this (and the almost hilarious hypocrisy of John McCain’s voting for the bailout within a week of emphatically stating he would NOT vote for legislation like it, during the first Presidential Debate), in mind I have changed my intent and will not vote for John McCain. Do not get me wrong, I do not believe that Bob Barr (my current, tentative, choice) has a prayer of becoming the next U.S. President. I am voting for Bob Barr because I believe that he is a far better choice, and if I were the only man in America to vote for him, I would consider my vote a success, because I will have voted my conscience. I can logically defend any one of my political opinions or my philosophy as a whole, I have educated myself to the best of my ability on each of the candidates (EACH, not BOTH) available to me (whether the ballot will suggest they are or not), and I believe I have selected a candidate much closer aligned with the ideas and opinions I believe to be truth. I am not telling anyone NOT to vote for John McCain or Barack Obama, I am not telling anyone who is discontent that he/she is making a mistake for choosing McCain or Obama, but I am suggesting that any one who would tell a third-party voter that he/she is wasting his vote, consider the logic (or lack thereof) of such a statement.

I would not dare tell anyone what to do with his/her vote, but for the sake of those like myself, who feel as if voting for a diluted version of a Republican or a diluted version of a Democrat is perpetuating a flawed and harmful system, hold your accusations unless you are prepared to couple them with some logic.

Feel free to comment.

–William