Like the 2000 election, I will not be voting for a Democrat or Republican this year.
Four years ago, I was registered in Indiana, a very republican state. I voted for Nader in order to lend my support toward the 5% goal for getting federal funding. I do not regret my vote, and don’t see why I should.
This year, I will once again vote for greater choices amongst candidates. As far as I can tell, the most viable candidates are:
- Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party
- David Cobb of the Green Party
- Ralph Nader, running as an independent this year
- Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian Party
Peroutka’s agenda is even more faith-based than Bush’s (or perhaps he’s just more open about it). He’s anti-abortion, wants a government rooted in biblical principles, and is against women in the military (I didn’t even know this was an issue). We actually share some views (like Gay Marriage, although for different reasons), but there’s no way I’d vote for this guy.
Amongst the other three candidates, I agree with them on some of the issues, disagree with others, and think they’re lunatics for the rest. I’ll eliminate Cobb from the running because I agree with less of his agenda, and I’ve flipped a coin between Nader and Badnarik since it doesn’t really matter anyway (as my goal is more votes for non-two-party candidates).
Badnarik won the coin toss; I’m voting Libertarian this year.
Update 11/1: Perhaps I should consider Gene Amondson
Update 11/4: I was one of 2,290 in King County. Nader and Badnarik votes combined totaled about 1%.
12 Comments
Hooray!
While supporting third party candidates in hopes that they will get the coveted 5% and some federal funding, you should try to get your state to split the electoral vote with the popular vote.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6106804/
Granted it will make you state less important in relation to other states who don’t split the vote, but it will open the door to third party candidates who may actually get a few electoral votes instead of a big fat zero. Plus the third party candidates will be campaigning in your state instead of the big propaganda machines of the major parties…
You’ve just robbed the Constitution Party of the one vote they were going to get in King County. On the scary side, I bet that lunatic gets a bunch of votes on the Eastern side of your state.
It would be great if more states followed Colorado’s lead. How did the movement start in Colorado? Was it the Democrats hoping to get some votes? Was it the third parties? Do you think it will pass?
Fine. You’re not voting for Kerry, I am changing my will to have everything go to your sister… :)
Actually, if Kerry wins, vote count matters as a large Kerry advantage influences the whole country in the direction of a democrat(ic) agenda.
I disagree that the vote count influences the direction of an administration’s agenda. Bush didn’t even have a plurality, and that didn’t seem to affect his administration’s agenda (he also ran as a moderate, but whatever).
The administration plus Senatorial votes will be what matters.
Vote count matters in that it tells other elected officials interested in re-election that their positions need to reflect the mood of the voters. If Bush does not get reelected it will in part be due to the fact that he did not govern as a president who did not have the majority. So vote count “influences” the agenda whereas the administration plus the influenced votes “determine” it.
I don’t quite agree with what your saying, but:
“Vote count matters in that it tells other elected officials interested in re-election that their positions need to reflect the mood of the voters.”
Is actually a reason to not vote for Kerry, as my vote for a third-party candidate better reflects my mood.
I would vote for a third party if NH allowed one on the ballot…bastards.
I’m shocked NH doesn’t at least have the Libertarian candidate on the ballot (”Live Free or Die”); you could always write-in a vote.
NH was one of 2 states the Libertarians didn’t get on the ballot with this year (Oklahoma being the other). It was somewhat ironic because NH was supposed to be the new home of the Libertarian Party - Libertarians were planning on moving there (some already have) and influencing the vote. There was some sort of signature fiasco this year. During the last presidential campaign, Harry Browne from the LP was on the ballot in NH (and all 50 states).
I was annoyed myself that he was off the ballot (I also thought of “Live Free or Die”)…didn’t think to write him in though (mostly because I can’t spell his last name).