I have a dilemma. I have one vote, and my political position most closely aligns with Ron Paul. However, currently he is at 5.3% at the poll’s, which could indicate that unless a miracle happens, he probably will not win this election. Which is not to say that it could not happen, I firmly believe in miracles.
My dilemma then is this: Should I vote for the candidate who I am most closely aligned with (Ron Paul) just out of principle, or should I use my one vote and throw my weight behind someone who is more likely to win so that those that I do not want to win have less of a chance?
I think that there are many, many like me and are thinking the same way. I think that there are enough people out there that would vote for who I am voting for, but they are in the same dilemma, thinking that if they vote with their conscience they will not be doing any good, when in reality, if everyone voted with their conscience the right person WOULD win.
What it comes down to is this, we should all just quit playing the game. We should all just vote for who we think will do the best for the country and then let happen what will happen.
That is what I am choosing to do. I am going to vote with my conscience this year. My first act in this year of voting my conscience is to proclaim that I am voting for Ron Paul.
I encourage you to vote your conscience as well. Who ever that may be, vote for them. It does not matter what their current percentage of votes is. It matters what they stand for and what they will do.
Whatever you do, VOTE, and VOTE AMERICAN!!!
Those of you who support Ron Paul, make sure you Get a Ron Paul Sign.
That’s no good, because that would mean I’d have to vote for Thompson, but he already dropped out. 🙂
Of course that’s what primaries are all about. When it comes down to the end and the parties are at their conventions they get an idea about what the party platform should be by how the party voted. Ron Paul’s primary stance is limited government. If he has a good showing, but doesn’t win then the party knows that there is a significant % of the party that wants limited government as the number one issue in the platform. That’s what fringe candidates do, they bring attention to issues. By voting Ron Paul you are making your voice heard, then when it comes to the actual presidential vote you vote for the candidate that comes closest to your position.
The same thing happens in local politics. If you don’t go to the meetings where people hash out platforms or issues, but still vote then you get to vote on the platform that someone else put together, and your voice was not heard.
The vote that usually counts the most is the one you make in small groups if you choose to be silent in your circle of influence, then chances are that your voice will be washed away in the mass of millions of votes in the national elections.
Good comments. Guess I better let my voice be heard and put up a sign or something and start talking to other people. 🙂
Living here in Utah, I figured my vote was a throwaway anyway, so I’d vote for principle and put my support behind the candidate who best fit my views… democrat or republican. So I’ve been studying all of them carefully over the past year. I’ve found I have problems with all, and major problems with most of them (even Ron Paul, sorry). My support is now with Mitt Romney, who’s probably going to win Utah hands-down anyway.
What’s a Utah voter to do? Get involved on the national scale. Write letters to editors. Contribute. Participate. Share your opinion with friends in other states. Even talking with your local friends about why you support your candidate can help if they talk to their out of state buddies.
Sorry Jonathan, but from my travels and talks with folks I know across the nation, Utahn’s and non, mormon’s and non, there really aren’t a lot of people who even understand Ron Paul or know who he is. My mom loves his guts though (D*&% the IRS!)
Your friend Velda is right. Voting is not enough these days if you are backing someone not in the “major leagues” you have to work hard and contribute by talking to people, spreading the word and yes, putting up signs 🙂 Miracles happen, but they require a lot of hard work on our part.
However you should NEVER think of your vote as a “throw away”. No matter where you live. I think that it is our responsibility as Americans to vote exactly as Jonathan has said: with our conscience. I believe they record a lot more in Heaven than just our prayers and mistakes.
Velda, Mitt would be my second choice, but going down the list of issues, Ron more closely fits my values than does Mitt. One of the lists I am using to gather my own information is:
http://glassbooth.org/
Gwenny, I agree. We should never think of our votes as “throw away”. I hear that all too often and it disturbs me. I hear people say that one person cannot make a difference. I say, with that attitude, they are probably correct, but with a good positive attitude any one person can make a huge difference. To borrow a phrase from scripture, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass”.
I appreciate the comments.
I am 100% for Mitt!!