Yesterday, I saw a headline that read, “Nader factor still looms.” After I promised myself I would avoid any more political posts… this just pissed me off too bad.
I’ll say this very clearly: A vote for Ralph Nader is not a vote for George W. Bush. It’s a vote for Ralph Nader.
A vote for Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate is a vote for Michael Badnarik. And the list goes on. The fact is, the myth that a vote for Nader is a vote for W is just one of many factors used to maintain the status quo. It’s a delusion that your vote only means something if there is a chance of winning.
That’s right, it’s a delusion to believe the lie that your vote only means something if your candidate has a chance to win.
I mean, seriously think about it for just one minute! California is not a swing state, and John Kerry will win easily. Is a vote for W a vote for Nader in California? Get it? What about in 1984 when Ronald Reagan was clearly going to win the presidential election by a landslide. Was it a wasted vote to vote for Walter Mondale? Maybe you think so because you liked Reagan, but not because of the principle that a vote has to have a chance of winning for it to count.
Until this idea that you can only vote for one of the two major parties for your vote to count is completely discredited will we see the possibility of a third, fourth, or fifth party rise to prominence.
It’s ridiculous that two parties are supposed to represent all of the United States citizens. A vote for Nader or Badnarik or (insert name) could be a vote that you don’t believe either of the major party candidates are fit to lead this country. You could honestly believe that Nader or Badnarik would make a better president, or you could believe in the need for alternatives to the two parties. Either way, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!! And it’s not a vote for anybody other than the person you placed it for. Period.
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