“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” – John Milton, Areopagitica
As unhappiness turns to misery for the Republican Party, social media has exploded with declarations of opposition to Donald Trump. Republicans are talking about voting for Johnson, or Castle or any number of other bad ideas. Elections have consequences. If the Libertarian Party gets just 5% of the vote, they will receive millions of dollars in federal subsidies in 2020 – enough to help the Libertarian Party peal off more Republican support and to ensure that no Republican wins the White House in the coming decades. Any Republican that votes for Gary Johnson is voting against all future Republican Nominees.
The biggest threshold for third parties is the national 5% threshold. If a party crosses 5% in the national vote they will be given access to federal public funds during the next election. These funds would massively boost the power of third party candidates to raise their name recognition and get out the vote. Gary Johnson and Jill Stein have struggled in recent weeks chiefly because they don’t have the money to raise their name recognition above 50%. – The Daily Gazette
In fact, anyone you vote for will be empowered by your vote. I understand being angry with the Republican Party. We nominated Donald Trump and he has made us look ridiculous. However, instead of voting for third parties that cannot win and that will inevitably sabotage future elections, if you cannot in good conscience vote for Donald Trump, then simply do not vote for President. In Virginia, we can all turn out to vote for our Republican Congressmen and for the Right to Work ballot initiative. Just Write-In “None of the Above” or “No Confidence”. There’s really no point in writing in a particular political candidate, because those votes will likely not be counted.
I know a great many people believe that this election could destroy the Republican Party. I beg to differ. Congressmen Dave Brat, Justin Amash and Thomas Massie are still Republicans that Republicans will get to vote for. Here in the 1st District, we’ll have the opportunity to vote for Congressman Rob Wittman. There will be plenty of opportunities to vote for Republicans we can respect and admire. Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul are Republicans.
The Republican Party is the only thing that stands between you and the rise of democratic socialism. Has it made it’s share of mistakes? Of course. On the other hand, the Republican Party has provided libertarians with the only electable libertarian candidates. The Libertarian Party hasn’t done that. The Republican Party has provided conservatives with electable conservative and constitutionalist candidates. The Constitution Party hasn’t done that. Think about it – if a libertarian, conservative or constitutionalist candidate cannot gain enough support within the Republican Party to win a Republican Primary, how in the world would you expect them to gain enough support to win in a general election?
If you are a Republican and you want to send the Republican Party a message indicating your frustration with its nomination of Donald Trump, just don’t vote for a Presidential Candidate, but support the rest of the Republican Party ticket. Believe me, if our Congressmen get more votes than our nominee, the message will be clear enough.
Don’t empower Johnson, Clinton, Castle or Stein with your votes. If you cannot vote for Donald Trump, vote with your silence. Don’t advocate for candidates that cannot win and who you wouldn’t really want to be president anyway. The lesser evil argument is a binary argument. It does not apply to third party candidates.
42 comments
[…] back to my previous post, Steven Brodie Tucker wrote that my idea of voting for former Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian alternative, is a dangerous […]
I totally agree that the major parties would most like your vote, but if you won’t vote for their candidate, the parties would like you to stay home. That will best stabilize the status quo.
And that’s why you are wrong to say this.
I’m old enough to remember the poor quality of automobiles being turned out by Detroit in the 1970s — Pacers, Pintos, and Matadors — all products of a market that was (they thought) monopolized by American manufacturers. All garbage. When Americans begain purchasing Japanese cars in droves, the immediate reaction of Americans was a patriotic defense — “Buy American!” But that turn towards alternatives forced American car manufacturers to become more competetive, make better cars, deliver more value.
Trump and Clinton are the products of an uncompetitive market, in which the parties can offer whatever they please to us, and coerce us into voting for their candidate based on our values. And of late, based on our fear of the other.
What will happen if no candidate wins the minimum electoral votes? As we know, the choice will be up to Congress. And we know Congress will pick one of the two major party candidates.
But what will the parties do if they are threatented with diminished influence? Well, after they clean up their pants, they will offer better candidates in the future. And that is what America needs.
It’s time to start thinking about why you are loyal, Mr. Tucker. Why you are loyal to a national party structure that isn’t loyal to you. Perhaps we should all be promising our integrity instead of our loyalty. Encourage people to vote their conscience. Let the chips fall. Urging voters to vote Republican or not at all? You’re urging voters to support a monopoly. You’re promoting Pacers and Pintos and Matadors. Stop it.
What’s a Matador?
Kinda simplistic and not a decent analogy. Doesn’t take into consideration a bunch of other factors, wages, benefits, materials, economy, etc.
Johnson and whatshername are not a superior candidate. The parties had their survival of the fittest and gave us their best. Judging from the hustings, Trump was a pretty good choice for Americans — for the party elites on both spectrums, not so much.
You can judge from the people having cows who and how will be most hard done by.
Americans know and will vote Trump, the dems will arrange to get the pardons they need, the GOP elites will crank up the talkshow concern trolling and no one will care about Libertarians until Kooky Gary does something that looks funny on TV.
I’m not encouraging people who would otherwise want Libertarians in the mix not to vote for Libertarians or Greens or Reds. I want then to understand the consequences of their across. I’m informing them that if the want Republicans to get elected in the future, then they need not vote for Libertarians. They can make up their own minds about what fifty years of one party rule would mean for their liberty and economy.
“The Republican Party is the only thing that stands between you and the rise of democratic socialism.”
I completely disagree… The Republican party is COMPLICIT in the rise of democratic socialism. They continually refuse to stand for the conservative principles they campaign on and have capitulated time and again to Obama’s spending priorities. No sir, the Republican party may have a different name than the Democrats, but it is still the same coin. We are just getting to the same destination at a slower pace.
Well yeah, if you don’t keep your thumb in its eye. Only Trump seems to be the guy rassling this b’ar.
The Republican party was in trouble before Trump.
Totally, Trump saving the party if it’s possible at all to do so.
If this is what saving the party looks like, the party’s over.
Massive we disagree about what Democratic Socialism is then. My frustration with the Republicans has been their involvement in Corporatism. Sure, they are willing to dole out entitlements if that entitles US industries to even bigger subsidies.
Brodie #2
Spot on, Steven. A couple of our favorite troll commenters are at it again here, but you’re right. I plan to support the entire Republican ticket, with exception of trump. I won’t vote for anyone else, either. That ballot line will remain blank.
That is YOUR choice. As for me, I voted absentee. Now it’s time to get out of Dodge just in case there’s a SHTF moment in America. Cambodia is pretty peaceful this time of year.
SE Asia has good food too.
Yes it does. Been getting a bit expensive in some places the past several years. Too many tourists spoils the broth.
Hillary thanks you.
One of my two favorite troll commenters. Right on time.
She still appreciates your support.
We could be in trouble if Trump loses. I honestly believe there will be violence directed to those who must be purged. :/
Leave it to the esteemed SBT to provide clarity. The Bull Elephant would be poorer without him.
Or grow up and vote for Trump. We are (currently) blessed with the opportunity to choose our leadership, and that is precisely what our vote does. You may vote for, or you may vote against. Everything else is irrelevant.
If you vote for Trump, you vote against Hillary, if you vote for Hillary, you vote against Trump.
If you do anything except vote for Trump, your vote does not count toward the “T” you are facilitating the win for “H” and vice versa.
The secret ballot means (currently) that you can vote any way you want, and/or say you voted any which way you like and no one will care (myself and others will confirm that you actually voted, esp in primaries.)
I’m so sorry that the GOP couldn’t find anyone better and that the democrat party can’t dislodge the Clinton stuck in their craw.
But if you close your eyes really tight and scream at the top of your lungs, it will make the same difference as any of your other magic wishing, but would be more amusing for me.
So, let the whinefest go on, but remember you are choosing the destiny of you and your children/grandchildren no matter how you vote/don’t vote. If you want them to have a chance, it will be “T” for Trump.
I think Trump is finished. I just want to stop the bleeding in the future.
You aren’t doing that.
A) there’s a newsflash
B) if you were more involved in the party, you would have a better understanding of politics and how things work.
C) wishful thinking, and
D) see B) and realize that without a Trump win, there is no political future.
Unless you are promoting a political Cloward-Piven and actually believe it can end well for Liberty.
Has it ever occurred to you that in the future there could be real blood in the streets? The events that have happened this election cycle is how that type of thing starts. When politics becomes Winner Take All, when the end justifies the means, the only real losers are the citizens.
Yes it has. I’m worried by all sides.
This entire, “a no vote” or “a vote for a 3rd party candidate is a vote for the other guy” has been put forth ad nauseum by both parties. That’s more indicative of how closely aligned the respective parties (the establishment?) are, that, above all, the most important thing is to protect the status quo, and the money train.
I can’t speak much to the other party but what or why do the Republicans have so much to fear? It won’t, but if anything, that should trigger some level of introspection. Afraid of a “dolt” and “idiot”? (the words of Ms Jeanine who never resorts to name calling) Perhaps the future for conservatives isn’t in the Republican Party. Does it really matter what name is on the brand?
What from within the Party gives you confidence that any near future Republican nominees will be better than the current crop of misfits?
Right now, both parties are two drunks in a bar, trashing everything. Maybe, just maybe, if given the opportunity, a 3rd party may still be drunk at the bar but at least just shut up and go pass out in the corner and not leave a path of destruction in its wake. Yeah, at this point, in this election, I’m voting for the better drunk.
Okay, I guess that works if you think a passed out drunk is a good thing as President of the US and leader of the free world. Or are you arguing for a throwaway vote on a greater bozo? The only thing worse than your analogy is your logic.
Voting has consequences. One of the two bozos will win, which of the bozos will do least damage to you and yours? Do whatever you can to facilitate the win for that particular bozo.
If History matters, voters for Perot put who in office?
“The lesser Bozo” … I like that.
I’m thinking that the possibility of getting a decent conservative candidate is better with 1 of 3 than 1of 2. Crossing the 5% threshold does that. That’s a win.
Right now, both bozos and their respective hangers on have proven a capacity to do damage. 180 degrees out just means they got to the same point via a different direction.
So you think a ‘both candidates suck, let’s pee on a spark plug with Aleppo Gary’ strategy a) is sound and b) can win??
You are not assuaging my fears about universal suffrage.
If it were about Gary, you would have a point. Gary’s not winning. For me, it’s about the 5% and giving another team the opportunity to play the game and maybe, just maybe actually be conservative.
The greens? 5% of what?
It’s going to be Hillary or Trump and if it’s Hillary we’re all most certainly screwed.
“5% of what?”: “If a party crosses 5% in the national vote they will be given access to federal public funds during the next election.These funds would massively boost the power of third party candidates to raise their name recognition and get out the vote” If you’re scared of competition, just say so.
What is so hard to understand? It will be Hillary or Trump THIS election. Everybody gets that.
However, why not work toward securing an option to the continual choice of Bozo1 to Bozo2? After all, this election is supposed to be about “the future of America as we know it”……here’s an novel, idea, affect the future bc neither these two candidates nor their respective parties have shown that they have any inclination to change the current state of affairs.
Oh, you’re still on the Libertarian fantasy.
Getting Hillary as President is worth it so the Libertarians can get their share of federal funds in the future.
Do you not see why people don’t take you guys seriously?
Because the LP, if more competitive, will ensure one party rule.
Clinton is a serial liar (and is cozy with all the wrong foreign dignitaries). Trump believes any words that make him look good (and assured us Putin wouldn’t invade a region he already went into). Johnson doesn’t know his foreign policy. Yeah, I can see why we should all pick a serial liar or a narcissist over a guy who needs a better foreign policy team.
Let me help review for you:
Johnson has less support than the Cubanadian.
Trump or Hillary are the only candidates who can win.
You have issues with what Hillary does, you have issues with what Trump says.
You have facts why Hillary is bad, you have feelings why Trump is bad.
You can vote to give your country a chance, or you can break for Hillary.
If you’re comfortable giving your kids and grandkids a Hillary world, do what makes you feel good, if they deserve more of a chance, vote Trump.
With help like yours, no wonder we’re losing. Trump as a sane human being, doing his darndest as a patriot… keep dreaming the impossible dream.
Who’s we? You’re working toward a Hillary victory, I’m laughing my way to the Trump win, trying to drag Babs across the line (seemingly against her will) we’re across the aisle on this one.
That’s a fair point, but it’s a big risk.
It’s the folks I meet in politics everyday that give me hope for the Republican Party. What has the LP ever done to make you trust them?