Big Al Wonders, How Should I Vote for President?
Let's see, I've only got 4 weeks and I haven't settled how I'm going to vote for President of the United States of Amerika. The Empire. Rama lama ding dong.
I could vote for Trump to try to stop Clinton from becoming my "leader", the one we all look up to and praise Jesus that we live in a land where one person makes decisions for the rest of the 330 million. How lucky are we eh? I mean, I've got enough shit to do without having to think about war and health care systems and Social Security. Let the rich people decide those things, we can all sit back and relax, look at our Iphones and drink stuff.
Ya, Clinton needs to be stopped but it looks like the only one to do that is Trump. That sucks.
Amerika the Beautiful. Man.
Well, I could vote for Clinton to try to stop Trump from becoming President. Lord knows he should be stopped. Clinton appears to be, through her loyally deluded serfs, the only one capable of stopping him. Because you know, if she wins, he doesn't.
That sucks too.
I could vote for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or some of the other third party presidential candidates on the ballot. That'll show em. The powers that be will look at the numbers and they'll know they're in big trouble man. Big trouble. And my conscience would be clear because I didn't vote for Trump or Clinton. That's supposed to be a good thing, I think. Fuck if I know, my conscience is pretty clear as it is. But hey, it's an option.
Or I could not vote. Whhhaattt? Not vote? I don't know man. That would make me a pariah in some circles. There are people who know people who know people who fought for our right to vote. Voting is like saying please, it's something everyone has to do or society will fail eventually. When people stop saying please, that's it, game over. It's already started here. People are not saying please anymore. And they're not voting. God help us because he's supposed to bless America. It says so in the song.
I could boycott the presidential election. I could not only not vote, I could tell them to shove this farce where the sun don't shine. I'm not sure how that would be conveyed by not voting, but it would make me feel good. And my conscience. That keeps coming up, the conscience thing. Maybe there's something to it.
Many in the left quadrant of liberal sanity are going to vote for Stein. Help get her to the mystical and magical 5% mark so in four years, after another Bernie, Hillary and Donald show, she can have a Magical Mystery Tour and perhaps join in on the debate. That will then have an impact on something, maybe fours years later. Or sometime later.
OK, so let's review my options.
-Vote for Trump. No
-Vote for Clinton. No
-Vote for Stein: Maybe
-Vote for Johnson: No
-Vote for other Third party candidate: No
-Don't vote: Maybe
-Boycott the Presidential election: Maybe
-Move to another country: No
-Vote your conscience - Yes
All righty, three maybe's, five no's and one Yes.
That's what everybody's been talking about, vote my conscience! See how I got there?
Now, what does that mean, voting my conscience?
Conscience: An awareness of morality in regard to one's behavior; a sense of right and wrong that urges one to act morally,
What I know is that I believe this political system at the national level must be replaced before we can attempt to reach any semblance of democracy and justice. I believe we're being ruled by a collection of rich and powerful people who are committing grand criminal activities that must be stopped. They are literally killing innocent people, impoverishing entire nations of people, causing genocides, and grabbing all the wealth and power for themselves. They are driving the planet toward doomsday. They control this political system and I don't believe any amount of third party renaissance will change that. I believe thinking 537 mostly rich politicians controlled by "special interests" can ever represent 330 million people is a colossal pipedream. I believe the aim should be to remove them from power by rejecting the political system they use to remain in power and implementing one that really is for the People.
Most of all, I believe We the Serfs should be protesting this political system that has given us a choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump for President in 2016. We've got Trump vs. Clinton man, do you think it's going to get any better?
My conscience tells me to not participate in this morally corrupt political system. I will not give my consent to be governed by either Trump or Clinton by legitimizing this election by participating in it.
So that's how I'm going to vote in the Presidential election. I'm not. I'm boycotting. I was just kidding in the title, I've had this settled all along. This isn't new for me and I've thought long and hard about it. I've never been a fan of this political system and the last ten years have convinced me that it's useless to try to make the changes we need in it and that it actually prevents us making the changes we need. And we NEED those changes, SOON. I think the same problem infests nearly every country. Representative government is a failure for democracy and a boon for elite control. It can be seen everywhere.
That's my decision and I can more than live with it. It doesn't really matter whether it's "counted" or not, I'm following my conscience. That's all we can ask right? To really, really follow your conscience.
Comments
Shah, You're logic is
Shah, You're logic is bordering on propaganda. No presidential candidate is a loser until November 9.
Hillary does not have it all tied up. Her campaign wouldn't be so anxious if she did.
There is a very good chance that Trump will win. His followers are not considering not voting. He has very enthusiastic supporters who will definitely turn out at the polls. There wouldn't be so much garbage out there this week if he was so far behind.
Trump won't have Hillary done in...the voters will! Remember, Hillary would not have won the primary without the "help" of the vote hackers. If all 10M of us who voted for Bernie, voted for sure for the same other candidate, imagine the power we would have!!
Don't just give up your right to vote in hopelessness. That is the propaganda the campaign wants you to believe.
I want to vote on ballot measures
In my county election office, in the past, some workers were filling in blank places on ballots. I think it could happen again, so I won't leave blanks. It is possible votes on local issues and candidates are not manipulated, therefore worth voting for those in case they are counted properly.
This last year has been an education for me, eye opening. It has been connect the dots to see and acknowledge what this country as become.
TPTB did not reject Bernie. They rejected decisively the issues he spoke about that represented what a majority of the people in this country want. They made it quite clear to us that they are not going to allow those things. Moreover, they wanted an end to discussion of them.
I think in an attempt to kill the movement he was a part of, after the election, Bernie himself will be as thoroughly discredited in public eye as possible. Let me be clear. It is not about Bernie. It is about the issues that Occupy, Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and others have, and are raising. TPTB are NOT having it.
Do what you want.
Without fear of punishment or favor.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LwcakgjXAc]
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I posted in my vote last week,
i voted my conscience. Neither of the two major parties were concerned all the way down the ballot.
How to vote for President?
With both eyes open.
If it was between Hill and Jill and either had a good chance,
would you vote? Then please consider voting Jill.
Because we don't know that she'll get around 5% of the vote or less. That's what the mainstream wants us to believe so that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I'll vote Jill in hopes that they're not counting a whole lot of people and they won't hack the vote and she will win.
Not voting will not send a message that you demand a different system. 67% of voters stayed home in 2014. How did that work out for us? Notice either party really concerned about voter participation? They are happy if you don't vote! That's fewer voters they have to worry about swaying! If it gets down to only one person voting, then they'll both pitch to that one person. Since the voters are the only ones who count, it doesn't matter to them if there are few voters, they win anyway.
So no, I'm not going to give in to the hopelessness they wish I'd have and stay home.
Do what you feel you must, but I think you're playing right into their hands.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
I voted for Stein in 2012.
Since then I've come to a different outlook. The funny thing is, now I actually feel the same as you do, that you're playing right into their hands by voting for Stein, i.e., by participating in this system that keeps the ruling class in power. The history of third parties at the national level since WWII is almost non existent. I'm not sure what makes people think now is any different. In fact, it's probably harder now because the ruling elite, thru the media and control of the government, have solidified their power over the people and this political system.
Watch what happens, see where we're at in a couple years. Same old thing.
I think it may be different this year because for one thing,
the two mainstream candidates have the biggest unfavorable ratings ever. For another, Bernie opened a lot of eyes, and if Bern supporters don't give in, they'll likely vote Stein.
If you decide not to vote, are you following it up somehow? Because if all you do is not vote, they'll just count you as apathetic, not as someone who adamantly wants to replace the system.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
The system is toast
Most people want change. If you don't vote you'll just be counted among the masses who don't care enough to vote - thereby keeping the current system as is. That'll allow the current duopoly to happily truck along (or more like sputter) for another 4 years and the country to spiral down further. The political class will get the message if voters massively abandon the two parties and vote for alternatives. That includes writing in candidates if you are not satisfied with the official candidates. Please do reconsider Stein. She is the only sane person out there as far I am concerned.
“The first duty of a man is to think for himself”
So are there no local elections
or local spending measures, etc., that are worth going down to vote upon? I'm as dismayed as you, but we have a few of those that I want to vote for and against. I'm thinking that a vote for Jill Stein, even if nothing ever comes of it, at least registers my displeasure with the DNC; as if they give a shit.
Seriously, the truth is that nothing is going to make any difference until people finally get fed up and decide to tear it all down, mentally and physically. When that happens (I think when, not if) things can either be improved or go totally into the crapper for everyone. Rather a role of the dice at that point. Either way there will be lots of destruction, unfortunately, in a system that is not exactly well structured to avoid chaos. No telling what our losses will be.
You would think that the uber-wealthy would want to avoid what should be as obvious as the noses on their faces. Even the NFL isn't enough bread and circuses for the masses lately (ratings/money dropping).
It finally does come down to conscience
This is truly the most unique, bizarre election I've experienced here.
It does gladden the heart immensely to see so many people seeing through the kabuki theatre of Democrats & Republicans. Much more, and more passionately than even 2000.
As an Irish socialist, growing up while the Troubles raged 40 miles to the north, I've always been critical of empire. First the British soon thereafter then the American & Soviet empires. My first political memories are the hunger strikers in 81 and supporting the Sandinistas (great coffee!). So my opinion of the Dems/Reps has always been the one so many here are finally espousing.
However, ironically, this year there is an American First, nativist, racist, xenophobic, literally a fascist as the GOP nominee. That is a big red line for me. Being Irish and traveling through the UK I get a small insight into what it is like to be a minority in this country. And socialists fight fascists, it's what we do. Whether it's 1920s street battles in Germany, The Battle of Cable Street. When you are faced with fascism you defeat it or you die. It is a very simple equation. You can negotiate, reason with sociopaths, bring pressure to bear. Saddam offered to leave Iraq in 2003 if he could take $60 billion. You cannot with fascists. The only thing they understand is the fist in the face and the boot in the bollox.
I did not vote for Obama (retro immunity telcos) either time, did not vote for Kerry (AUMF) and I wasn't a citizen for the 2k cluster but I was on board with the Nader/Green party plan of aiming for 5% to get funding but bowing out in swing states to prevent the GOP getting in.
This election all options are shit. There is no point getting angry at someone for not agreeing to go along with your shit option. And more importantly, this cycle awoke many, many that feel compelled in the face of fascism to buy into the Lesser of Two Evils one last time. But believe, it is one last time.
So if you are actually serious (and I know you are). The Green party in the US is totally fucked, it's not the vehicle. But there is great hope because of these figures (2014 ish, some rounding):
Voting Age Population: 240 million
Registered: 142 million
Turnout: 83 million (congressional) and 120 million (presidential)
There are 90 to 100 million unregistered voters, studies over the decades show there's about 20% to 30% of the total US VAP that doesn't bother to participate because there is no party left enough for them. We build a successful third party by identifying those on the left unregistered and then activating them. In a first-past-the-post election we only need 50 million voters to defeat both the Dems and Reps for Prez/Senate/House/State.
I do enjoy the irony of getting reamed for buying in to the LoTE for the first time since I came here
Fortunately I'm in CA and have the luxury of voting 3rd party for every office, plus some great ballot measures. It's worth the prices of the Bay Area not to have to hate myself and vote for HRC. So people, don't hate those that are holding their noses, they hate themselves already and will be our best allies in the fight.
Pages