“Let us contemplate our forefathers, and posterity, and resolve to maintain the rights bequeathed to us from the former, for the sake of the latter. The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude and perseverance. Let us remember that “if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom,” it is a very serious consideration that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event.”
Samuel Adams
Bad theories on voting strategies that we’ve all heard
1. “Lesser of two evils”
This theory advocates for voting for one candidate over another based on the stated belief that both are evil candidates, but one is less evil than the other. This theory does not advocate that one candidate is good, just less evil. It is an acknowledged vote FOR evil rather than a “losing” vote for good. This theory is proffered when your party puts forward a candidate that doesn’t represent what the party claims to stand for. This is an attempt to put the responsibility on you to support the party when the party is failing you.
2. Voting “against” the other guy/party
There is no option on any ballot to vote against a party. And, except in the case of a retention or recall vote, there is no ability to vote against a candidate. This theory is proffered when your party puts forward a candidate that doesn’t represent what the party claims to stand for. This is an attempt to put the responsibility on you to support the party when the party is failing you. This is especially true in places where your party offers you one of the other party’s candidates with your party’s label. In these cases, you are voting for the other party by default, since there is no option being offered to you.
3. We have to vote for a candidate that can win
There are so many problems with this bad theory it is hard to know where to start. The fact that someone would suggest that putting bad candidates in office is somehow “winning” is sad. This claim exists to keep party voters locked in. If those voters left the failed party and took their votes to a party that represented their values, the failed party would collapse and disappear. This theory is simply rhetoric designed to keep voters locked into a single party forever without regard for the poor quality of candidates and legislation the party provides. They also clearly recognize that their candidate can’t win unless they keep you locked in with rhetoric, because the party has failed you and the candidates they offer are poor options for you.
4. We can save the DEM/GOP from within
Doing the same thing over and over and over again expecting different results. There was a time when the party was young where this could have been true. But the DEM/GOP are so entrenched and so well bought that no real change is possible within the two old, dying parties.
The only effective strategy is to raise up other parties that will defend individual rights.
The Constitution Party encourages Citizens not to waste their votes on these bad theories. Instead, vote courageously, and commit your effort to a party that represents you.
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”
William Ellery
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.