Pat, I’d like to solve the puzzle…..Bob Barr!! Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner!!!

Here we go:

“Vote for McCain or Obama, because one of them will win”

“Voting for 3rd party is like voting for Donald Duck”

“You are wasting your vote”

I’ve heard all of the “reasons” to not vote for a 3rd party candidate, and each time I simply and politely ignore them. It just amazes me how so many people that I speak with mention something along the lines of a “wasted” vote. The only “wasted vote” is the person that blindly votes their party ticket.

1. Voting a straight party tickets “just b-coz".

Not only is this ridiculous, but it goes against everything that makes this nation a Republic Democracy. Please see Democracy vs Republic to understand why I crossed out Republic. It’s not supposed to be an “US” vs “THEM” mentality to keep this [once] great nation in the #1 global position, but the “WE” mentality to work together to solve tough issues like oil dependency, the environment, and a slew of other issues that just get talked about with the current bi-partisan form of government. It’s this “Oooooh, look what WE did” and “OMG can you believe what THEY did” attitude that is destroying our global position and our nation as we know it. This era of complete voter ignorance to important matters will cause much dismay in the future. When will we open our eyes and realize that we have been jumping through enough hoops, followed enough laser pointers around and been taken advantage of for LONG ENOUGH? When politicians speak about non-partisan politics they treat it like it’s a miracle from God or something. What’s really going on is people, citizens of the US no different than you are I, with varying view points, are discussing matters that HAVE to be discussed because they impact the greater of us. It’s the difference in view points, or at least the potential for difference, that makes us what we are…..A Great Nation. It’s simply amazing the clown-show that they put on to make you, the under-educated voter, feel like you belong to something. They are only giving you a name that supposedly defines your political stances by telling you what to believe in (granted you DO have a small list of issues that are important to you)and by creating a separation from the “other” party. Not only do the issues help shape you, but also the oppression of the other side. This is a tactic used by every army in the world. Why do you think that men must shave their heads upon entering the US military? Of course it’s to give them the “united” feeling, and also helps to establish who they are, as a unit but not as an individual. When you define who your opponent is, you also define what/who you are NOT. This is VERY dangerous because your definition of your opponent could be mislead, and therefore so is your own self definition. Be an individual and create your own opinions. Research all of the candidates for 2012, and find the one that you agree with, and not what the News stations constantly tell you about.

This reminds me of a good quote:

Your vote isn’t a bet on who’s going to win the election. It’s a statement of who you are. –Unknown

It sure seems to be the “Donkeys vs Elephants” these days, where lapel pins, ex-pastors, acquaintances from 20+ years ago, $150,000 wardrobes and bridges to nowhere seem to take the cake. Do you people not see what’s going on? They have made a real life reality show of this political shit and you are eating it up! I get a sick taste in my mouth when I hear the Main Stream Media’s correspondents blabber on about this or that with respect to McBama or O’Cain. Dodging the issues is good for the political parties, because the more you are in the dark, the more power they have not only over the issues, but also over you. They are there to represent you…..aren’t they?

Let’s get down to brass tacks. They (Obama and McCain) are not much different. I know what you are thinking…"OMG they are SOO different! One is a Democrat and the other is a Republican. They are like Day and Night, Hot and Cold, Sun and Moon". Maybe you should actually read about their “differences” and allow yourself to make a logical, and informed conclusion about both of them.

I have digressed, and I hope that you are still reading!

2. “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” – John Quincy Adams

This is the “meat and potatoes” of my argument. So, you agree with what Obama/McCain says about a particular issue…fine. You have the right to your own opinion, and as long as you have factual reasoning behind your vote then you are doing your civic duty, and most of this blog is not speaking to you. The problem is that alot of people simply DO NOT VOTE for a 3rd party candidate because he’s “not going to win". This is so stupid. Do you think that the Reps and Dems have been in control forever? How did they get to power? There must have been a group of people that didn’t approve of the current establishment, no? If you don’t approve of either of the mainstream candidates, expand your horizons, look outside of the box, [insert another cliche here] and vote 3rd party!

The facts are that you probably can’t name more than 3 people that are running for the Presidency, and that is VERY sad. The 3rd party candidates listen to more of their constitutes, and their entire campaign is typically a grass roots movement. This is true democracy when the people donate their free time, money and hard work to a candidate that they truly believe in, and do not receive the endorsements of big business ($$) the media (free advertisement) or high ranking government officials (the good ole’ boys). I experienced this first hand when painting HUNDREDS of Ron Paul 2008 signs and distributing them throughout Raleigh in 2007. What an experience!

If you always vote with your principle then you have nothing to be ashamed of. If you merely vote for the “lesser of the two evils", you are putting someone in office that you consider EVIL, or at least not fit to run the country. There is a fundamental error when this happens.

Let’s forget about the presidency for a moment. On a more local level, make sure that you are educated about your Senators, Representatives and Governor. These are VERY important positions that actually affect you much more closely than the president will. It’s typically much harder to learn about these positions, because the MSM does not pay attn to them for the shear fact that there is not enough time. Local news may publish stories about the local candidates, and you should read these, but remember that most news sources are pretty openly biased and end up endorsing one of the candidates. Do you think that you can trust “Fair and Balanced” news coverage with a company that has an agenda? How do I know they have an agenda, you ask? Why else would they endorse a candidate in the first place?! Aren’t they in the business of giving us the news, or are they simply trying to tell us how to think? Get most of your news online or though other sources. If you can control the media, you control the minds of the public. Everything else is simple:

Levels of brain activity are measured by an electroencenograph (EEG) machine. While watching television, the brain appears to slow to a halt, registering low alpha wave readings on the EEG. This is caused by the radiant light produced by cathode ray technology within the television set. Even if you’re reading text on a television screen the brain registers low levels of activity. Once again, regardless of the content being presented, television essentially turns off your nervous system. -FamilyResource.com

Your brain halts!! No wonder I don’t subscribe to cable! You now understand why advertisements are BIG business. You brain is not thinking and is just accepting forced thought.

Hopefully I have shed a little light on educated voting, and hopefully you will at least look at the 3rd party candidates during the next election cycle before casting your vote for the lesser of 2 evils.

Here are a few quotes that I like:

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots".
-Thomas Jefferson

“It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority”
-Benjamin Franklin

“It is the duty of the Patriot to protect his country from the government”
-Thomas Paine

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”
-Thomas Jefferson