This article will probably be a great waste of my time, because the ones who read it and understand will not be the ones who need to read it.
Wikipedia says that the reason for voting
In a democracy, voting commonly implies election, i.e. a way for an electorate to select among candidates for office. In politics voting is the method by which the electorate of a democracy appoints representatives in its government.
I have read a lot of comments lately about what people will do when their candidate doesn’t appear on the ballot for the General Election in the US. Some have said they will not vote. Some have said they will vote for someone else “to send a message”. Some have said their (political) party has been hijacked. Some will vote a straight party ticket without knowing what the platform is or what the candidates stand for. Some will vote based on race, age, gender or appearance (these are the HOPEfull voters).
To these malcontents I say this, “Get over it!” If you don’t vote at all then you cede all rights to complain. Unless you vote you really haven’t earned the right to protest. As for those that talk about jumping parties, I say go ahead, but know what you are really doing. Being an active political party member does not mean that you support the candidate, it means you support the party platform.
The party platform and its planks are not determined by the candidate but by the active party members in committees, in caucuses and at the grass roots level. If you don’t agree with a candidates planks then voice your opinion at party meetings, in party newsletters, blogs and via your donations of time and money. Work to get the platform and/or planks changed!
Wikipedia defines,
A party platform, also known as a manifesto, as a list of the principles, which a political party supports in order to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having said party’s candidates voted into office. This often takes the form of a list of support for, or opposition to, controversial topics. Individual topics are often called planks of the platform.
Under the provisions of the Constitution the act of voting is a right, but it is also the privilege of all citizens of voting age [The Twenty-sixth Amendment prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen of age 18 or greater to vote simply because of their age. Some states do not allow convicted felons to vote (either for life, or just while they are in prison).]
Vote, but make it an informed vote. Know what and whom you are voting for.
For those interesting in a more scholarly study about informed voting I suggest Lupia and McCubbins: The Democratic Dilemma, a summary of which is here.
Well said, Tex. I think too many of us tend to get interested in politics only when there is a national election coming up…then we get all mad throw temper tantrums when the political landscape does not represent our views. Why should it?
If we don’t like our choices in the 2008 election…now is the time to start working on making sure we have better choices (nationally) in 2012, etc.. We can do that by becoming active in the political process at the local level.
Remember, the national politicians didn’t start their political careers by running for president. They started locally.
Interesting piece. One problem though. The Republican Party does not support the Republican platform and hasn’t for some time. What does it mean to say you support the platform of a party that doesn’t support its own platform?
I’m one of the malcontents. I certainly will vote but I’ve said a number of times that I won’t vote for John McCain. In the end I could end up choking back the vomit and voting for him but that’s not my plan. Your argument implies I am part of the problem. I think the opposite is true. I think those who hold their noses every election and vote for the least offensive candidate help perpetuate the problem. I’m sick of the lessor of two evils personally.
The reality is I’m not sure what I’ll do come November. The only thing I am sure about is that I WILL vote for someone. Judicial nominations may force me to vote for McCain but if I do, I have no illusions that I’ll be making the world a better place or even that the country will be better off. I believe that a McCain presidency will further erode the Republican Party’s commitment to conservatism.
Ron, the Republican Platform was last updated in 2004, the new one is still being drafted in State meetings. I don’t agree with the procedure and have recommended a convention to approve a platform two years before the General Election and that we choose candidates who agree with that platform, the individual planks for the platform then could be ironed out at the nominating conventions. But this change has to start at the bottom and the working toward that goal should have started before the primaries.This year I am afraid there will be a lot of people voting against candidates instead of for a candidate. This is the reason delegates and State Executive Committes are so important and these people are elected by grass roots and not on any public ballot. Don’t wait until the Nov Election get involved now. I apologize if I implied you are part of the problem. The problem is the uninformed who make those statements. I am not telling people how to vote, just to know what they are voting for. By listing the candidates and what they are for (not what they say they are for but a record of voting and a review of who is supporting them, following the money trail, checking out advisors, etc) then seeing which candidate most closely matches your list of prerequisites. It is doubtful that any candidate will ever truely meet all requirements for everyone within a political party but the one who comes closest. Face it politicans are very flexible when it comes to voters, if enough voters want a platform or plank they can shift a candidate’s viewpoint, but the voters have to speak up and demand to be heard. Obama has come a long way on rhetoric with no real plan for anything, people are voting for him and have no real idea of what he plans to do.
Given our choices this election, “None Of The Above” would be a great write in, if enough did it.
In the interim, I am working to get more conservatives elected at lower level government to work from the bottom up like the libs did to take back America for Patriotic people who actually love America.
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A new independent study shows that deaths from terrorism have actually declined by more than 40 percent since 2001. This flies in the face of the constant Democrat mantra that states the opposite, that terrorism has increased since Bush initiated the War on Terror. It is a mantra that the media have helpfully spread for their friends at the DNC...(Publius Forum)
...if you listen to Obama's statement, his only understanding of China is from watching the Olympics on television. We know now that most of what we see on China through the television is not true...I would like to mention that if Obama lived in China, one of his daughters would be dead. Or would he support the One Child policy too? (Copius Dissent)
This week’s big story, which was rather predictable: Yesterday’s referendum in Bolivia continues the current status, with Evo Morales still in power and the opposition also in Eastern Bolivia remaining strong...(Fausta's Blog)
Two years ago, Governor Pawlenty announced an ambitious plan to force (via government fiat) the market toward more and more use of corn ethanol. At that time, AAA and I (among many others) wrote copius posts about why forcing market acceptance of corn ethanol (at the expense of other fuels including gasoline)...(Ladies Logic)
At the end of a congressional session, the speaker usually opens the door for the Members to give a short speech of their choosing. This year, Ms Pelosi didn't allow the speeches, instead she shut the mikes, turned off the TV Cameras and the lights and closed congress for five weeks. ...(Yid with Lid)
Great photos, over at RadarSite!
Iraq is buying 392 LAV (Light Armor Vehicle) 25s. These are the same eight wheeled vehicles used by the U.S. Marine Corps. The LAV series are a licensed version of the Swiss MOWAG Piranha. This model is in use by many other countries. The Canadian version, the LAV III, was the basis of the U.S. Stryker armored vehicle, which has been used heavily in Iraq, and apparently has impressed the Iraqis...(Okie Campaigns)
The jihad in the Philippines continues. Local muslims are unhappy because they violated an earlier agreement and will not get control over what they consider ancestral homeland. Un-happy the muslims did what un-happy muslims always do and found some Christians to attack. The military was a little slow to respond but I hope they shoot straight and regain control...(Dr. Bulldog and Ronin)
...Is he referring to Americorps? Expanding the existing civilian national security apparatus (CIA, NSA, and the rest of the alphabet)? Or maybe something new? ...(Target Rich Environment)
Georgia and Russia move towards all out war - could this lead to World War? ..(Daily Newscaster)
John Edwards would like this story to end today, but it looks like there's a lot more waiting to be revealed...(Blogs of War)
At the request of Congressman @PeteHoekstra, I just called Speaker Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) and left a voicemail urging her to allow a vote on important energy legislation to help give America some relief at the pumps. Naturally, I recorded the call using YouTube's quick capture...(TechRepublican)
...3) Like Darth Vader, Barack has very little experience of any kind that qualifies him to be a leader, much less a source of inspiration. 4) Like the Vader character, he will lie and disappoint others to serve his own arrogant desires and outcomes...(Barnhart Blog)
Senior Airman Kimberly Bickford 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron U.S. Air ForceSenior Airman Kimberly Bickford performs a pre-load check July 28 on an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to ensure the cable that releases the bomb is operational. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero...(Blue Collar Muse)
One lucky man. Being between Walsh and May...(Stix Blog)
he Institute on Religion and Public Policy strongly condemns the new constitution ratified by the Maldives’ legislature yesterday. The constitution fails to provide basic guarantees of rights and freedoms in the country for non-Muslims and also violates internationally accepted human rights standards and norms...(Creeping Sharia)
...I’m a wonderin’ if Obama hasn’t peaked too soon. And he’s vacationing in Hawaii right now, too. Hope he’s enjoyed his lead. Maybe he’ll do better when he’s not saying anything. Actually, if no pictures come out, I think the silence will help him. It’s when he opens his yapper that he gets in trouble. Expect him to rise in the polls over the next week. That’s my prediction. (Dr. Melissa Clouthier)
From International Christian Concern...(A Defending Crusader)
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Well said, Tex. I think too many of us tend to get interested in politics only when there is a national election coming up…then we get all mad throw temper tantrums when the political landscape does not represent our views. Why should it?
If we don’t like our choices in the 2008 election…now is the time to start working on making sure we have better choices (nationally) in 2012, etc.. We can do that by becoming active in the political process at the local level.
Remember, the national politicians didn’t start their political careers by running for president. They started locally.
Interesting piece. One problem though. The Republican Party does not support the Republican platform and hasn’t for some time. What does it mean to say you support the platform of a party that doesn’t support its own platform?
I’m one of the malcontents. I certainly will vote but I’ve said a number of times that I won’t vote for John McCain. In the end I could end up choking back the vomit and voting for him but that’s not my plan. Your argument implies I am part of the problem. I think the opposite is true. I think those who hold their noses every election and vote for the least offensive candidate help perpetuate the problem. I’m sick of the lessor of two evils personally.
The reality is I’m not sure what I’ll do come November. The only thing I am sure about is that I WILL vote for someone. Judicial nominations may force me to vote for McCain but if I do, I have no illusions that I’ll be making the world a better place or even that the country will be better off. I believe that a McCain presidency will further erode the Republican Party’s commitment to conservatism.
Ron, the Republican Platform was last updated in 2004, the new one is still being drafted in State meetings. I don’t agree with the procedure and have recommended a convention to approve a platform two years before the General Election and that we choose candidates who agree with that platform, the individual planks for the platform then could be ironed out at the nominating conventions. But this change has to start at the bottom and the working toward that goal should have started before the primaries.This year I am afraid there will be a lot of people voting against candidates instead of for a candidate. This is the reason delegates and State Executive Committes are so important and these people are elected by grass roots and not on any public ballot. Don’t wait until the Nov Election get involved now. I apologize if I implied you are part of the problem. The problem is the uninformed who make those statements. I am not telling people how to vote, just to know what they are voting for. By listing the candidates and what they are for (not what they say they are for but a record of voting and a review of who is supporting them, following the money trail, checking out advisors, etc) then seeing which candidate most closely matches your list of prerequisites. It is doubtful that any candidate will ever truely meet all requirements for everyone within a political party but the one who comes closest. Face it politicans are very flexible when it comes to voters, if enough voters want a platform or plank they can shift a candidate’s viewpoint, but the voters have to speak up and demand to be heard. Obama has come a long way on rhetoric with no real plan for anything, people are voting for him and have no real idea of what he plans to do.
Given our choices this election, “None Of The Above” would be a great write in, if enough did it.
In the interim, I am working to get more conservatives elected at lower level government to work from the bottom up like the libs did to take back America for Patriotic people who actually love America.