Quote:
Originally Posted by browser2920
The US presidential elections, despite the presence of other candidates' names on the various ballot, is in reality a binary choice. Under our current system, either the democratic or republican party nominee will be the next president. No doubt about it. So what happens when a citizen just simply can't stand either candidate and doesn't want either one to be president?
Some people decide to stay home and just not vote for either. Some decide to vote for some relatively obscure candidate on the ballot or write one in. But it seems to me that in doing so one is in practical effect forfeiting their right to determine who leads the country for the next 4 years. No matter how bad the two choices seem, one is going to be president. Do citizens have a civic responsibility (is that even a concept anymore?) to make a tough decision and choose? Or is refusing to make that choice, and thereby leaving it in the hands of others a valid approach to elections?
My thinking is that no matter how bad both candidates may be, when you start going down a list of pros and cons, somewhere down the list you will finally reach a point where one candidate gets a slightly better mark than the other on something. Or maybe it's more broadly focused, like a desire to not have all three branches of government controlled by the same party. But ultimately there should be some difference to make you hold your nose and pick one over the other.
IMO to "waste" a vote on a fringe candidate or not vote at all is shirking a responsibility all citizens should be expected to exercise.
The largest percentage of votes in every presidential election is people who don't vote. I didn't vote when I was young because of ignorance, then when I became informed it was clear neither party represented me. The policies are similar on most issues.
The percentage of people who abstain has shrunk after the rise of MAGA. More people are voting now as they see the contrast between fascist dictatorship and corporate oligarchy.
It's definitely much more of a statement/dangerous now to vote third party or abstain. I do agree with you that people should vote and to abstain/go third party is a cop out. That's because at this point, a vote for the Democratic candidate is a vote for democracy and to preserve America.
Last edited by L0LWAT; 02-29-2024 at 07:30 AM.
Reason: change punctuaction