June LC thread

[will1530]

Originally Posted by Happy_Fish

OK, so you're going to cast a vote to show your political strength to a party that by all accounts hates you more than they hate Democrats? I'm not sure that they will be as upset by you leaving as you think.

Personally I've never been part of the Republican party, but lots of people with a similar ideological base as me are. Tom just wrote part of the answer to this in the Ron Paul thread

Originally Posted by TomCollins

We need people like Rand who will play inside the system and try to game it, and we need people like Ron who stay ideologically pure and stand up for things to push in that direction. It's not that hard to understand. Having more people "crazier" than you makes the positions that might have seemed crazy be more normal and more acceptable.

The other part of the answer is, it doesn't take much of a revolt by Republican voting libertarians and fiscal conservatives to basically destroy the Republican party. A few percent of the base taking off and voting for the Libertarian permanently makes the Republicans the minority party.

As has been said before, 5% and Libertarians get matching funds next go around. 15% support and they get in the debates. While libertarians would draw votes from both parties, they take the majority of their support from Republicans.

[Chips Ahoy]

Originally Posted by Happy_Fish

I just don't see what it will accomplish, other than making you feel good.

That's the most any single vote can accomplish. Your vote is not going to change the outcome of the election. The value of voting is internal.

[Happy_Fish]

Originally Posted by will1530

Personally I've never been part of the Republican party, but lots of people with a similar ideological base as me are. Tom just wrote part of the answer to this in the Ron Paul thread

The other part of the answer is, it doesn't take much of a revolt by Republican voting libertarians and fiscal conservatives to basically destroy the Republican party. A few percent of the base taking off and voting for the Libertarian permanently makes the Republicans the minority party.

As has been said before, 5% and Libertarians get matching funds next go around. 15% support and they get in the debates. While libertarians would draw votes from both parties, they take the majority of their support from Republicans.

So then the end result is that the Democrats are always in charge? That doesn't seem very good, either. You'll get the worst party (from your view) in power, along with the GOP hating you even more than they already do, and you're still stuck with a 15% base that has no ability to get anything done. I could see some sort of takeover inside the GOP, but then you'll get the social conservatives to revolt, and you're still stuck with a party with no ability to win. And the current GOP doesn't seem too fond of you guys to begin with, so I don't see them moving over and making room for you in policy discussions.

[Happy_Fish]

Originally Posted by Chips Ahoy

That's the most any single vote can accomplish. Your vote is not going to change the outcome of the election. The value of voting is internal.

I guess that explains why so many people just want to vote for the winner.

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by Happy_Fish

I guess that explains why so many people just want to vote for the winner.

I've never heard anyone express this desire.

[Happy_Fish]

Originally Posted by Mayo

I've never heard anyone express this desire.

Have you never talked to a voter? The entire landscape is littered with "I like x, but he can't win."

[Mayo]

That's not the same sentiment.

[Happy_Fish]

Originally Posted by Mayo

That's not the same sentiment.

It is the same result when they ignore the candidate they like better in order to choose the 'more electable' candidate. See: McCain, Dean, Romney

[clemensol]

Originally Posted by Happy_Fish

It is the same result when they ignore the candidate they like better in order to choose the 'more electable' candidate. See: McCain, Dean, Romney

Dude...

[Happy_Fish]

Dude isn't enough for me to work with.

[Nichlemn]

Originally Posted by Mayo

I've never heard anyone express this desire.

It's not the sort of sentiment you're proud to express, like "I'm voting for/against Obama because of his race". It seems like it's quite common among low-information voters, though.

[Low Key]

Originally Posted by Happy_Fish

It is the same result when they ignore the candidate they like better in order to choose the 'more electable' candidate. See: McCain, Dean, Romney

Do you have proof that they didn't vote for any of these candidates? Or is them declaring their belief enough evidence for you?

[zikzak]

Originally Posted by Nichlemn

It's not the sort of sentiment you're proud to express, like "I'm voting for/against Obama because of his race". It seems like it's quite common among low-information voters, though.

I have no problem admitting that Obama's melanin content played a huge role in my support of him in 2008. Four years later, it's still a major + for me. Putting a black dude in the White House was a pretty damn awesome moment in US history.

[Happy_Fish]

Originally Posted by Low Key

Do you have proof that they didn't vote for any of these candidates? Or is them declaring their belief enough evidence for you?

Yes, people saying that they will not vote for candidate X because they cannot win is enough for me to believe that they will not vote for candidate x.

[BadBoyBenny]

82%
Gary Johnson
I side with Gary Johnson on issues of Domestic policy, Social, and the Economy. More info

82%
Ron Paul
I side with Ron Paul on issues of Domestic policy, Healthcare, Social, the Economy, Foreign Policy, and Immigration. More info

72%
Kent Mesplay
I side with Kent Mesplay on issues of Healthcare and Science. More info

66%
Barack Obama
I side with Barack Obama on issues of Science, Social, and Foreign Policy. More info

27%
Mitt Romney
I side with Mitt Romney on issues of the Economy and Immigration. More info

Despite the #'s, I still think I'd vote for Obama over anyone who is trying to end the Fed or who wouldn't support the civil rights act