I don't generally like cut and paste posts, and I tend to avoid them. This was good enough that I was compelled to read it and pass it along.
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A powerful answer to the "Wasted Vote" Argument
by Michael Cloud
He warned me.
"When this commercial break is over, I'm going to throw you the toughest question for Libertarian candidates," said WORC Talk Radio Host Tom LaRoche. "So buckle your seat belt."
I smiled. I love tough questions. Especially on the radio.
When we came back on the air, LaRoche said to me: "I don't want to waste my vote. If I vote Libertarian, the worst of the other two candidates might get elected. I want to vote Libertarian, the Libertarian is the best candidate, but I just can't take the chance.
"Mr. Cloud, how do you answer this argument against voting Libertarian?"
"Do you want your vote to matter?" I asked. "Do you want your vote to count?"
"Of course I do," he said.
"Voting for the lesser of two evils, voting Republican or Democrat out of fear that the other is so much worse -- that vote is wasted," I said. "Because that vote doesn't send the right message.
"The candidate who gets your 'lesser of two evils' vote thinks that you are voting FOR him. He thinks you like what he's doing, that you want what he's giving you. Is that the message you want to send?"
"No, of course not," he said.
"You know how K-Mart got the message that you didn't like anti-gun activist Rosie O'Donnell in their ads?" I asked. "When they saw Wal-Mart's profits going up. When they saw K-Mart's profits going down."
I was warming to the subject.
"Do you know when the Republican politicians and the Democrat politicians got the message that the American people didn't want deficits? When Ross Perot got 19% of the vote for President in 1992 -- campaigning almost exclusively on THE DEFICIT!"
"Politics is a marketplace. A business knows you're happy with their service and products when you spend money with them. Lots of money. Suppose you don't like the service or the products, but you keep shopping there. Would they clean up their act?" I asked. "Would they get the message that you're unhappy with them? What if you go to their complaint department again and again, but you keep shopping with them? Would they get that message?
"But when you spend money with their competitors, they get the message. When their competitors' market share increases, they get the message. When their market share decreases, they get the message," I said.
"And then they either change their behavior or lose your business.
"When you vote Libertarian, when Democrat and Republican politicians see Libertarian candidates getting 10% or 15% or 20% of the vote -- on a 100% pro-gun freedom platform, on a platform of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and small government -- that's a message they pay attention to," I said.
"You waste your money when you spend it with businesses you don't like. You waste your vote when you spend it on politicians you don't like. The only way to get rid of bad businesses and bad politicians is to do business with their competitor," I said. "The only way to make your vote count is to vote Libertarian. Does that make sense, Mr. LaRoche?"
"Yes it does. I agree," he said.
How do I know this wasted-vote argument works?
Because a lifetime Republican from Arizona was in the studio during my interview. When the radio show ended, this Republican said that I had changed his mind.
Then, at my request, he filled out a Libertarian Party membership form, paid his $25, and joined us.
Amen!!!!!, but millions will still line up and vote for either Kerry, or Bush.
Several of us have asked and are still waiting for the name of an electable 3rd. party candidate! To date, we have not been given any names! Why? Because there are NONE!
I don't like the two party system any more than you do, but it is what we've got. If any of these 3rd. party people were electable to any major office, they too would be in either one of the established parties!
They are not electable, so they have to make a "statement!"
And that "statement" is: get the worse possible candidate elected! While their gullible electorate, piously think that they've actually done something good!
How can any of you, that go by ANY conservative label, think that making a "statement" by getting someone who is an unabashedly liberal sleaze, who would be totally opposite of what you all "say"you stand for, elected!
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Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty or Safety!
Ben Franklin
I LOVE my country, I FEAR my government!
If your mother was an abortion proponent, would you be reading this right now?
I have spent many days working eight, twelve, or more hours. Actually there have been times I've been required to go "more or less" continuously for 72 hours or so without any rest/sleep. But one thing I can say for nearly all of those exercises. They served a purpose!
I am becoming convinced that further argument or discussion with some members on this forum are like "pushing against a steel reinforced concrete wall all day". We are expending great amounts of energy....but accomplishing nothing. I think we'd be better off letting them shove on the wall......and we should concentrate our efforts on actually accomplishing something. I have no qualms with hard work.....but other than the "exercise" (intellectual in this case).......nothing is to come of these discussions with these same members. I think we'd be best served to "spend this energy explaining reality to those a little open minded....and willing to consider facts". (The ones actually living in reality.)
They, (and we all know who they are), will not accept that conservatives no longer have the sheer numbers to "bite it off all at once". And until we start making changes within our educational systems, local governments, state governments, and in the popular media......it is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! They also show absolute contempt of reality that by placing into office the worse candidate they perpetuate this "sad reality" all the much longer!
I believe it is best we let them waste their time.....and we find a more productive use of ours. We should carry our message to friends, relatives, neighbors, and to other members on this site....as well as any others we happen to visit. In warfare the simplist way to breach an obstacle......is to bypass it!
Dave
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You can live life, or simply grow old!
No it is not depleted....I choose to spend it were it will have effect! You are free to spend yours as you see fit.
Dave
P.S. If you'd like to make good use of your time.....do yourself a favor and don't waste it on me......I'm not going "to come around to your way of thinking". Only trying to do you a favor....by letting you know honestly!
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You can live life, or simply grow old!
Wasted Vote? (cut and paste warning)
