While I fully agree that Kerry/Edwards is a sub-optimal choice, this election isn't about optimal choices.
I'm fully in support of voting reform, (http://www.livejournal.com/users/georgedorn/103418.html?nc=6) I even voted for Nader in 2000 (I was in a safely Democratic state) but voting for a third party this election isn't the way to make it happen.
Voting for a third party in the upcoming election to send a message that you want voting reform is a bit like refusing the help of an attorney when you're on trial for you life, on the grounds that you have a beef with the way the court system operates. The court (i.e. reality) doesn't give a rat's ass about your principles, you're just going to get fried.
Want election reform? Start locally. If there's still time to get a referendum on the November ballots, now's a good time to start. The more people see run-off voting in statewide elections for lower offices, the more open to reform everyone will be.
Yet another reason to vote for Kerry: in 2000, Gore won the popular vote. Big deal, it was by a pretty narrow margin anyway. This year, Bush could still win while Kerry also wins the popular vote. If the popular vote margin is even bigger, such as, say 10% of the vote, there's going to be a whole lot more talk about voting reform. So even if you're in a solidly Democratic state, it's still pretty damn important to vote that way.
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Date: 2004-07-08 03:21 am (UTC)I'm fully in support of voting reform, (http://www.livejournal.com/users/georgedorn/103418.html?nc=6) I even voted for Nader in 2000 (I was in a safely Democratic state) but voting for a third party this election isn't the way to make it happen.
Voting for a third party in the upcoming election to send a message that you want voting reform is a bit like refusing the help of an attorney when you're on trial for you life, on the grounds that you have a beef with the way the court system operates. The court (i.e. reality) doesn't give a rat's ass about your principles, you're just going to get fried.
Want election reform? Start locally. If there's still time to get a referendum on the November ballots, now's a good time to start. The more people see run-off voting in statewide elections for lower offices, the more open to reform everyone will be.
Yet another reason to vote for Kerry: in 2000, Gore won the popular vote. Big deal, it was by a pretty narrow margin anyway. This year, Bush could still win while Kerry also wins the popular vote. If the popular vote margin is even bigger, such as, say 10% of the vote, there's going to be a whole lot more talk about voting reform. So even if you're in a solidly Democratic state, it's still pretty damn important to vote that way.