So lately I’ve made it known that I am planning to vote for an “also-ran” in the presidential election. I do this for several reasons. First, I firmly believe that you cannot complain about something you’re willing to do nothing about. A corollary of this principle is that those who live in a democratic society and do not vote have no right to complain about what the government does. For decades I never voted, and sat silently in my un-political corner, adhering to this principle. Now I have grown weary of silence, and I plan on doing plenty of complaining. Hence I will vote so as to support my habit.
Second, the particular candidate who I plan on voting for is someone who I believe has a firm grasp on many changes that would be a strong positive influence on America as a nation and as a society. He has had many years serving in the federal government and has plenty of experience with foreign policy. I have read his writings and find that the vast majority of his ideas not only make sense, but are entirely workable.
There are other reasons as well, but the main point of this particular diatribe is in response to friends and acquaintances who have confronted me with their challenge about why I am “throwing my vote away” on an “also-ran” candidate with no shot of winning the election. My response is this: The candidate I have in mind has the right idea to make the changes needed to at least boost, if not fix the economy. His views on foreign policy are exactly what the country needs to limit its vast expenditures overseas while simultaneously reforming the rest of the world's general despise of the USA. His ideas on tax reform are quite fair and workable. I do not believe he is some sort of messiah; no president could ever be. In fact, I strongly believe that being president precludes any sort of messianic aspirations one may have.
Neither front-runner candidate (McCain or Obama) has any sort of plan that is any more than a reshuffling of the deck chairs on this particular Titanic country. My friends have encouraged me to not “throw away” my vote. Some have pleaded with me to vote for Obama so that McCain doesn’t get into the White House. Others have begged that I vote for McCain so Obama doesn’t acquire the Presidency. Both camps have asked me to vote for the lesser of two evils.
Who is really the one throwing their vote away? The one who votes for the guy who might actually do something positive for our nation? Or the one who votes for the lesser of two evils? Imagine what a great nation we could have been if voters actually elected the right man for the job, rather than the one with the “best” political endorsements. I am the one asking you: please don’t throw your vote away.
11 years ago
