Warning: This article may disturb your equilibrium. Most people that consider themselves progressives or independents will be tempted to vote for Democrats in this year's elections, mainly because of a great desire to rid the nation of as many toxic Republican office holders as possible. Taking a longer term, bigger picture perspective, however, should be considered. Keep asking yourself: Is your deep confidence in Democrats driving you to vote for them or is it your hatred of Republicans? Here are ten reasons for resisting the "lesser evil" temptation:
1. Face the ugly reality that though you may despise Republicans, Democrats have also been corrupted by many financial special interests, have no moral or political courage, and show little capacity for building broad public support for making the profound changes this nation desperately needs. If Democrats gain control of one or even both houses of congress, the odds of them taking bold action to straighten out the country are extremely low. They would have lots of fun and get enormous media coverage by investigating the many misdeeds of the Bush administration. Though entertaining and gratifying, nothing of importance will change structurally. Rather than use their victory to institute true reforms, they will use it to prepare for the 2008 election. Partisan and divisive politics will trump national unity and reform.
2. Reducing voter turnout in local and state primaries and general elections can send a powerful message to both Republicans and Democrats. Namely that Americans are incredibly fed up with both major parties and the two-party duopoly status quo, and want electoral reforms that give them more choices.
3. A Democratic "win" this year will really be a win for the two-party duopoly. The power elitists and economic royalists who really run the country know how to cope with such political shifts. For them, periodic power shifts between the two major parties stabilizes the system – and it is the two-party SYSTEM that needs overhaul. Change within this restrictive political system is more illusory than restorative.
4. Lowering voter turnout helps undermine the credibility of the Bush administration's efforts to sell American-style democracy to other nations. Think of not voting as a political boycott that embarrasses Bush.
5. There are some tensions within the Democratic Party, and you may sympathize with those elements representing a more progressive set of values, it would serve them better in the long run if Democratic candidates lost this year. That would establish intra-party conditions more supportive of an ideological takeover of the party by people less subservient to corporate and other money interests.
6. A Democratic "win" will do much to mobilize and strengthen the Republican base and put the party in a stronger position for 2008.
7. For the good of the country, third-parties need more support. If you feel obligated to vote, then find third-party candidates to vote for. Not voting for Democrats and Republicans helps set conditions for stronger third-parties.
8. If you contemplate feeling guilty about indirectly aiding the election or reelection of Republicans, then see the positive side for 2008. Let Republicans maintain as much power as possible and flush the nation deeper down the toilet. This may help more of the population see the evils of Republican policies and raise prospects for defeating Republicans in 2008, especially the Republican presidential candidate.
9. Another reason for a protest non-vote is to show utter contempt for all the deficiencies of electronic voting machines.
10. If you are among the many suspecting various forms of vote fraud, then why waste your vote? Why play in a crooked game?
When primary and general election days arrive, take a breath, and resist the temptation to vote for Democrats mainly because you want to punish Republicans. Remind yourself that voting for Democrats in the past did not do much good for American democracy or our economy. The latest national poll finds that 67 percent of Americans have a negative view of the Republican Party and 57 are negative about the Democratic Party. Those figures define an opportunity for the emergence of a national third party for 2008. An amazing 76 percent of people are angry about something, and only 12 percent are satisfied with Congress. Many Americans seem to have seen the truth: We have arrived at this dismal state of the union in a bipartisan way. We can choose to only blame Republicans or focus on overthrowing the two-party SYSTEM.
Bipartisan incrementalism will not restore greatness to our country. Tweaking by Democrats will not do the necessary job. The nation is in a mood for change, but what we really need is vociferous demand for revolutionary and restorative transformation. There's a better chance for that in 2008. The real question is: What can we do now to set the stage for that transformation?
www.delusionaldemocracy.com
Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
I agree with some of the above, disagree with other points.
As an advocate of third party politics I will vote for that candidate which says the things which motivate me. As one who believes also that the Democratic Party is about as corrupt as the GOP, thanks in large part to William Jefferson Clinton, I see only one good thing coming from a democratic majority in the House; with a majority democrats can begin investigations into the numerous shady dealings of the Republican majority, can reopen the 9/11 hearings, can attempt to find the missing money (8.6 BILLION) of the Iraqi reconstruction fund etc......is this reason enough to vote the slate? I do not know but think not.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 6:13:51 PM
Just want to say that I too will enjoy the entertainment value of a Dem controlled House, but for the most part all it will do is create the illusion of political change, when in reality it will be just like watching a sports event where the underdog gets the ball and scores lots of points; the general public will lose whatever attention it now has on the more profound problems with the country; and I doubt very much whether any Dem investigations will actually produce true reforms or, for that matter, well deserved punishment for all the crooks, liars and traitors in the Bush administration.
by
Joel S. Hirschhorn (126 articles, 31 quicklinks, 58 diaries, 508 comments)
on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 6:51:02 PM
Just Give Up and Don't Vote. That's what the GOP wants.
1. There certainly are Democrats who have been corrupted by many financial special interests, have no moral or political courage, and show little capacity for building broad public support for making the profound changes this nation desperately needs, but as a party they have acted in the public interest to a much greater extent than the Republican party. If Democrats gain control of one or even both houses of congress, the odds of some of them taking bold action to straighten out the country are extremely high. At least these few brave Democrats would get some media coverage by investigating the many misdeeds of the Bush administration. This would be entertaining and gratifying, but more importantly it would change the course of public opinion. At the very least, the run-away tax cuts for billionaires would be met with some resistance from Congress.
2. Reducing voter turnout in local and state primaries and general elections is exactly what Republicans need to retain office and continue the rape of this nation for the benefit of the international corporate powers. Rather than leading to election reform, lower turnout at the polls will hasten the decline of democracy in America.
3. The way to achieve electoral reform is through action at the local level. A reform of the election machinery in one or two states could quickly spread throughout the nation. Lowering voter turnout will lead to Republican victories and with Republican control there is much more resistance to any electoral reform.
4. Lowering voter turnout will convince the rest of the world that the American voter just does not care. They will become even more of the opinion that the American population supports Bush and all that he does.
5. There are some tensions within the Democratic Party, and you may sympathize with those elements representing a more progressive set of values. It would be a final blow to these forces for the Republican Party to win decisively this year. It would convince too many progressives that the corporate takeover of the United States is complete and there just is no hope.
6. A Democratic "win" will do much to mobilize and strengthen the Republican base, but it will also do much to break the confidence of the larger Republican party. There are already cracks forming in the solid wall of Republican support and a loss to them could cause some of those cracks to form into breaks.
7. Our current electoral system with its winner-take-all approach makes third parties counterproductive. This does not mean that third parties in themselves would be a bad thing but rather that it is foolish under our current election rules to support third-party candidates for national offices. The almost certain result of serious third party efforts is that the winner will be the candidate least liked by the voters. This is a flaw in our system. If you want more choices then work for reforms like proportional voting (for legislatures) and like instant runoff voting (for executive offices. If you feel obligated to vote for third-party candidates then understand that you are wasting your vote or worse.
8. If you contemplate feeling guilty about indirectly aiding the election or reelection of Republicans, then think long and hard about your misgivings. Understand that that is exactly what you are doing by voting for a third-party progressive candidate.
9. Another good way to help keep Republicans in power is by not voting. Much of their efforts in both Florida and in Ohio were directed towards keeping likely Democratic voters away from the polls. By not voting you are playing right into their hands.
10. If you are among the many suspecting various forms of vote fraud, then why waste your vote? Why play in a crooked game? Just give up and let them win.
by
PrMaine (10 articles, 8 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 329 comments)
on Thursday, September 7, 2006 at 7:43:18 AM
3 comments
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