Thinking about choice...

[alexpgp]

One of the issues that has kept me from voting for a Republican or a Democrat in a national election for the past 20 years (and for the lesser of evils, generally, in state and local races) is the answer to the little voice in my head that asks: "Are you going to be any freer in four years if you vote for either one of these candidates?" Because the answer, invariably, is a resounding "No!" And so, I end up voting for the Libertarian candidate.

Fred Reed's position on democracy, as it is currently practiced in the U.S., is heavy on the cynicism:

Autumn looms and presidential elections will soon roll around, like droppings pushed by dung beetles. We will be exhorted to vote. Better advice would be not to vote. The proper response toward what we occasionally imagine to be democracy, methinks, is to retain one’s self-respect by not participating in it.

So in a year when the best the Republicans can do is George W. Bush and where the Democrats apparently brainwashed themselves into believing that "anyone but Bush" would do as a candidate and decided to prove it by nominating John Kerry, it's a breath of fresh air to read Libertarian Presidential Candidate Michael Badnarik's answers to questions posed by readers of Slashdot.

Cheers...

Comments

[skipperja.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed those. Thanks for providing the links.

I might as well vote for a Liberterian, Independent, or even Nadar; Bush will get all Texas' Electoral votes anyway.

How about having things BOTH ways?

[daphnis.livejournal.com]

Even if you can't espouse Kerry's projected platform of changes during a first term, have you given serious consideration to the types of ongoing environmental devastation which will have free rein for another four years under Bush's de-Administration? Are you happy to be partially responsible for the rape of wilderness areas to log old-growth ponderosas and redwoods, drill for oil and gas in heretofore protected National Reserve lands like Alaska and Utah and Colorado?

Do you condone the manipulation of the FCC, so that Freedom of the Press means Propaganda pulpits for Corporate Agendas, Public Ownership of the airwaves is sold to the highest (least principled) bidders, etc., etc.?

Do you not vote because you are a Resident Alien, able to enjoy the freedoms of this form of government, but blissfully free of responsibility to DO anything about those practises which you deem wrong-headed? Or have you simply opted out of working to sustain the advantages _you_ and others enjoy?

While other people care enough about their country to get involved, if only to register to vote, make choices, and VOTE for those they trust will work to improve life for everyone in the USA, do you sit back and laugh at our stupidity?

The honorable course, IMHO, would be to _vote_ for the candidate you believe would do the most good, and the least harm in each election cycle..... and then work like blazes to bring about the changes you believe would best lead the nation into new ways of thinking and functioning.

Of course, I'm only an elderly Begonia who has never missed an election in this country aside from the years I was in New Zealand ~ missing only one National election . I know my puny vote doesn't count for much, if anything, but as estoile recently reminded me, "Sometimes it only takes one more voice to make our voices heard!" Especially if so many others are too disgusted or discouraged to vote at all.....

Apologies for a rant, but I simply don't understand how you can live in country like that around Pagosa and NOT be more than tepid about its probable destruction by the Almighty Voracious Corporate Money-Grabbers!

[vuzh.livejournal.com]

you and i are pretty far apart on the political spectrum, but i'm also an independant, and your thoughts and concerns as expressed in your well-worded post resonate particularly strongly with me.

i don't generally find that Libertarians meet my ideals, but i consistently find what they say worth listening to, which is far better than either of "the big two".