Responsible voting

[ClarkJonathanKent]

I have been a vigilant reader here at DU for many years, but only recently started posting. I have been reading many debates here lately between people who will be abstaining from voting, voting their consciences, or voting for dems. Maybe my opinion is not welcome for some, as I don't have "1000+ posts" next to my name, but I feel compelled to throw my two cents in.

Let me start out by saying I am a Liberal Progressive. I'm a hopeless romantic and idealist of the tallest order. I live in hope and hold myself to a pretty high moral standard, without mixing religion into it. Even though I hold myself to a certain standard (I've never had a beer, cigarette, joint, etc...never yelled or raised my voice....never lost my temper and certainly never taken out a rough day on anyone else) I am always fully aware that what works for me isn't necessarily the right path for everyone else. Some people are very responsible coke heads. And if you can be a good, productive person while doing meth 4 times a day, I say go for it. When our values or habits start to have hazardous results on the lives or personal freedoms (current or future) of other people, that is where I draw the line. Do you know someone who wants to drink till his liver dies? You probably wish they wouldn't, but that's their right, right? Now, if they decided to get in a car after drinking 20 beers, you would probably stop them, right? Or, at least attempt to stop them. The point is, we do a good job of treasuring freedoms until those privileges threaten other people. For me, voting should be treated in a similarly pragmatic fashion.

From my perspective, I have 2 very simple choices. I can vote my conscience and vote for a person who has, realistically speaking, no chance of winning...while simultaneously increasing the likelihood that a far-right candidate will win. Or, I can vote Democrat and settle for making things slightly better than they would have been had the far-right person won. If I was the only person who had to deal with the consequences of voting my conscience, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I'm not. My brothers and sisters in humanity will pay the price, and your children will pay the price, and I take that responsibility pretty goddamn seriously.

And thus we have to face facts. Until someone sets up a realistic, long term plan to elect a Progressive, every vote for an Independent or third-party candidate is tantamount to a vote for the Republicans (in most districts, not all, of course). I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to have that on my conscience. I do leg work in my district for candidates that are more suitable to my liberal ways. But when election time comes, and my guy has no chance of winning, I vote for the lesser-of-two evils of the guys that actually can win. Think about it this way; if your vote will decide an election, and you have the choice between Gore, Nader, and Bush....and voting for Bush=a win for Bush, and voting for Nader=a win for Bush, and voting for Gore=a win for Gore....I'd like to think that 99.9% of the people here would vote for Gore. Well, a real election is no different. Unfortunately, we usually have to vote against making things worse, rather than voting for our dream candidate. It sucks, but that's the way it is most times. You want to set up a plan to elect a real Progressive in 2016, I am right there standing with you. But until that happens, let's not allow our principles to stand in the way of common sense. Take care, guys.

[xchrom]

1. I agree -- some of you HAVE to vote for the politics

Of Reagan and Thatcher - even if it has D behind the name.

I've done it.

I simply question the reason of continuing it.

Even though I may still do it my self - I simply
Won't dress it the way you have here.

[handmade34]

2. What you have written

exhibits a higher level of thinking than what most people are capable of (mostly republicans, tea partiers, etc). I was deep in thought today about this very same thing and how it pertains to people that actively demonstrate against "socialism" and vote for "personal freedoms" - The United States is pretty special in our inception, but we are not 1776 anymore (heck, we aren't even 1976 anymore); we are much larger and much more populated and so much more complex. Your reasoning is relevant and I appreciate it.

[mitchtv]

3. I am old, and have been voting Democratic for many years

But , my friend I have standards too, and I am getting sick of voting while holding my nose. It is, after all, my vote, and I owe it to society, not the Party. Certain issues with me are "deal breakers" choice, and marriage equality. I have very few votes left in me, so I will vote for Dems mostly and unfortunately for one down ticket candidate (D) I will be writing in or voting Green.

[tavalon]

4. You have stated the hard truth

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.