In what is perhaps my last act of political apathy, I will not vote in today’s primary. I have long held that I would switch my registration from Independent to Democrat or Republican if either party could give me a choice worth switching over. To date, that has yet to happen. McCain has the Republican nomination locked by now, and the Democrat choices are both so bad I’d have to throw myself off a building if I voted for either of those two. I guess you could say I’m bitter.
But my apathy in regards to political parties will be at an end after this. I have come to realize I am part of the problem. The reason there’s no one worth voting for is because I have not done enough to help get people on the ballot who are worth voting for. I will have to pick sides, and help promote candidates I like. To that end, I think the Republican party is still closer to my own views than those of the Democrats. If small government libertarians are to affect change, we have to work within the political system we have, not the one we wish we had. Next election I’m not going to sit back and let someone else present me with a choice. I’m going to try to make choices, and be heard. I will register Republican, and support the candidates who most believe in getting government off our collective backs.
I’d go vote for Obama because he’s easy to beat in the general.
Pennsylvania has closed primaries, and I missed the registration deadline.
Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start. Finding candidates that mirror my values is not that easy. Many of my views don’t necessarily make good sound bytes. Also, I often feel betrayed by candidates once I help vote them into office. Their positions change depending on the political climate. Anyway, nicely said but difficult to follow and be happy with the results.
David
Where I’m starting is peppering donations to local candidates that share a lot of my views. After that, I’ll get involved in the campaigns of politicians that have been leaders on issues I care about. Even if involvement is only lawn signs, or helping lick envelopes… it helps. Politicians tend not to screw the people who helped put them in office, unless their name is George W. Bush.
I’m not talking about big donations either. 25 to 50 dollars.
Glad you are not going to follow the libertarian route of helping to elect Democrats who support nothing that libertarians believe. Arizona and Kansas both have liberal Democrat governors (Janet Napolitano and Kathleen Sibielius, respectively) because the Libertarian party syphoned off just enough Republican votes to allow the Democrat to win.
Sibelius vetoed concealed carry in Kansas twice and the legislature overturned her veto the second time. Napolitano has not been able to do too much damage in Arizona, at least to gun owners, but I don’t think it’s for lack of will.
Not that Republicans are giving us much reason to vote them right now. They certainly are not. But a pox on both houses won’t get us anywhere. A conservative take-back of the Republican party will.
I wish the super delegates would throw Hillary and Obama both overboard and let the Republicans give them McCain. Then the Republicans could re-run all their primaries.
George W. is who I was refering to. Allowing the “assault weapons” ban to lapse is not the same as taking a stand. I honestly share a lot of ideas with Libertarians. I think Marijuana convictions should be overturned and those people let out of jail to make room for violent felons who should be there for a long, long time. Libertarian ideas, however, will probably never completely take off so for now I vote Republican. I like the party ok but absolutely hate the “family values” crap. Whatever happened to Teddy Roosevelt? That was a leader. That is my party.
Voted for Obama this morning. Both Democrat candidates were in my area several times in the last few weeks, and I am tired of all the noise and I’m glad it’s almost over. I was voter #97 at my polling place this morning, not a great turnout, but it will increase aftrer working hours.
Since all you guys seem to be Republicans, I am glad you are apathetic and certainly encourage you not to vote at all ever again.
Have a great day.
mark
Although I used to be registered as an Independent (Unaffiliated in PA), I’ve switched my registration to Republican. If a candidate or idea can’t get enough support in its own party (one of the two major parties), which is supposedly closer to the candidate/position than the populace at large, what chance is there in the general election?
Plus, by spending a couple of hours stuffing envelopes (or the like) a couple of times per election, one can build relationships with people who have political power.
I take my duty as a citizen seriously. I have voted in evry primary and general election that I could. Ther never is a candidate that mirrors my feeling and opinions. But I support the candidate that is closer. There is sucha large difference between McCain and either Obam or Clinton that the choice is easy. I think McCain may be worse than Bush but magnitudes better than either Democrat.
Sometimes my candidate loses. I lost with Carter and Clinton But my candidate wins most of the times. I try hard to pick candidates for state seats , judgesand Congrees and Senate. I live in a slidly Democartic state but I still vote. This election I made call for my primary candidate and he dropped out but that is the way our government works.
The elections are not just about presendential candidates but also chooses what candidate will be in the house or senate. That is important. How can you get leglislation passed or stopped if you don’t educate yourself on your representaives and candidates?
If the primary issue is gun rights then you try to send the candidate that best represents that to the general. Myrepresentative may not always vote they way I want, but I can write, call and visit to exprss my pleasure or disagreement.
I do not understand how a person can argue policy without trying to be involved at least to vote.
This election season is rare in that voters are actually having more impact on wwhat candidates are to be chosen. Usually state primarys are too late and the choice has disappeared.
Even my 18 year old son voted this year and he had only been 18 for a month.