From Jeffrey Tucker at Liberty.Me on October 7 via LP.org blog:
“Do you remember when you were first eligible to vote? An adult, a citizen, at last! Finally the power to exercise influence over public affairs in the most direct way. So I voted. Then the returns came in. My guy won anyway, overwhelmingly. I didn’t feel vindicated. I immediately realized that my vote meant nothing. I wasted my time.
“I felt like a chump, and never voted again. I watch politics like a spectator sport, just to see what happens.
“To be sure, I never bought the claim that my non-voting was unpatriotic. I still have the right to complain about the results, same as with any condition of captivity. Nor do I think I have some moral obligation to participate. For me, it’s a practical issue. I have better things to do. I also don’t like the way democracy fools people into believing that whatever happens in government is their own fault.
“Neither have I accepted the argument that voting is somehow immoral – a point you often hear made in libertarian circles. If a thief asks for my opinion about whether he should rob me, and I offer it, that doesn’t make me complicit in the theft. I’m not morally compromised because I made some effort to change the outcome.
“This year is different. My vote can count for something in the general election. Through my own action on that one day, I can add slightly, just slightly, to changing the culture of politics in this country. It’s only one vote but it actually does make a difference. Vote totals, whether we like it or not, are widely seen as a measure of public opinion. Maximizing the number of people who pulled the lever for something completely different is one small way to make a statement.
“Plus, there is really no serious opportunity cost to voting Libertarian this year. It’s a toss up which of the likely winners of this presidential election would be worse for freedom. I have no dog in the main fight.”
“Johnson and Weld have been out working hard on the campaign trail. Every day, all day, they are making the case for freedom, cutting government, ending overpolicing, bringing peace to foreign affairs and immigration. If you listen to them, and try to listen from the point of a view of regular person as opposed to an educated libertarian ideologue, they have actually managed to make the case for liberty make sense.
“The polls show that they are drawing equally from Republicans and Democrats. They are the favorite among active-duty military. They are the favorites among millennials, which makes sense because they are the only candidates who seem to be in touch with current realities (whereas Clinton and Trump seem like leftovers from a bygone era). They are appealing to a diverse group: men and women, whites and blacks, Latinos and Asians. The ticket is helping to shed the impression that libertarianism is only for rich white men, and refute the preposterous claim of the alt-right that only white people love liberty.
“I’ve seen this in real life at rallies. They are growing each day and much larger than what the media reports. And I’ve been so impressed at the quality and diversity of the people supporting this ticket. The ethos is hopeful, cheerful, constructive, and civilized. Love for liberty more than hate for something else is what you feel from the campaign. This ticket is attracting a wonderful demographic to the cause of liberty. If you are feeling down about our prospects for the future, these are wonderful events to attend.”
“Look at your state and look at the mainstream options out there for you. Is your vote going to matter, really? Do you really think there is that much at stake in whether Clinton or Trump wins? If not, consider adding your vote to a cause that could actually make a difference.”
Click here to read the full article.
“dL – not sure if that was directed AT me because I have never stated that Gov. Johnson was AWESOME and because the wording of your post was a bit tricky to follow.”
Yeah, but your actions betray your assertion. If I thought something was merely ‘meh,’ I might give it 30 minutes a month of my time, if at all. If I’m pounding the leather daily on something, then it means i either love it or hate it(or someone is paying me to do it). If you don’t love Johnson, then I would have to assume you are motivated by hatred of the LP. Or, as a last option, I suppose someone is paying you.
dL – not sure if that was directed AT me because I have never stated that Gov. Johnson was AWESOME and because the wording of your post was a bit tricky to follow.
24% in at least one NM poll I saw.
How is he doing in New Mexico? is he close to 20% in the polls? If he can overcome Clinton/Trump in that state and maybe Colorado or Utah it may be possible to deny Clinton/Trump from reaching 270 electoral votes.
“I have said many many many many times that I am not a libertarian. I left the LP years ago and was moving away from it for several years before that. For several years I tried to drink the Kool-Ade and be as awesome as you, but thankfully reality kicked in.”
Some tainted Kool-Ade if the long term consequences of ingestion is a the transposition of brain functions responsible for we’re actually doing (reality) vs. what we think we’re doing(perception). Symptoms of this disorder might include a persistent audio/visual exclamation of the awesomeness of Gary Johnson and Bill Weld.
24 years later and Andy still doesn’t read my posts with any sort of 5th grade reading comprehension.
I have said many many many many times that I am not a libertarian. I left the LP years ago and was moving away from it for several years before that. For several years I tried to drink the Kool-Ade and be as awesome as you, but thankfully reality kicked in.
I am glad that my beliefs do not fit 100% within one party. I am glad I am not a ideologue like you.
I am glad that I am not a conspiracy theorist.
I am glad that I live in the real world and not some fantasy dream bubble such as the one you habitate in.
#TinFoilHat
#Andy’sPersonalTolll (because he think’s he’s somehow important enough to merit one)
24 years later and Tony from Long Island still has not figured out that he is not a libertarian.
When I turned 18 in 1992 I registered as a Democrat. The one thing I knew clearly was that I was not a Republican. I saw Andre Marrou give a speech on C-Span and called the LP hotline for materials.
I didn’t yet understand why very few were gong to vote for Marrou, but I did and was happy about it. I didn’t vote for a POTUS candidate who won until 2008.
I have decided again that I am voting for Gary Johnson this year for a few reasons.
1) Hillary Clinton will win my state by a large margin
2) Gov. Johnson is a decent and honest man
3) I believe very strongly that we should have more than two parties. This is one belief of mine that has never wavered.
4) The better the showing by Gov. Johnson, the better it is for Democracy as a whole
5) The fewer the votes for Generalissimo Trump, the better it is for Democracy.
6) I support Gov. Johnson’s foreign policy for the most part
7) I support Gov. Johnson’s immigration policy
8) Although I am not excited by the candidate from my party, I am excited that we will have our first female president
9) Gov. Johnson has had success and experience in both the private sector and in government
10) To be fair there are issues I disagree with Gov. Johnson on (i.e. guns) but with the Senate safely in democratic hands, I won’t have to worry about that for a while