chrysalis33rpm wrote:smutek wrote:
A decision to boycott an election is quite different than saying "oh my vote isn't heard" or not voting out of laziness. It's a conscious decision and one that takes more courage, thought and genuine insight than just voting for "whoever the dems throw up" IMHO.
If it came down to it and I had my choice of Hitler, Stalin or Musolini I'd rather say that I choose none. An extreme example yes, but an example nonetheless.
"Boycotting"?! Gimme a break Smutek. Who on earth are you expecting to respond to your boycott? What difference will it possibly make?
On the other hand, a democratic victory will make concrete differences - among them, Bush's tax cuts will not be made permanent (which would pull the legs out from an already shaky economy, long term), environmental regulations will actually be enforced (no small deal in a time when a coalition of states has to sue the federal gov't to be able to regulate CO2 emissions and the Navy is projecting that the north pole could be open water during the summers within the decade), we have a real chance of finally getting a decent healthcarre system in our country, scientific research could finally proceed unhampered by people certain that the earth is 5000 years old, etc.
I respect your disgust with the recent behavior of the democratic party, it's pathetic, but to pretend that there is not a huge difference between the two tickets plays right into the system's hands.
Like it or not, the nature of democracy is compromise - your representatives are not going to represent you well on everything. That's the nature of the beast. There is still a huge stake in the coming election - and a huge gap between the sides. (And I understand you don't like Clinton - but comparisons with Stalin are a tad overdone, don't you think?)
It's not about giving you or anyone a break or expecting a response. I understand where you (and forge) are coming from, and I respect that, I really do. But for me it's about my conscience and what I will choose to support or not to support.
Again, I honestly haven't made up my mind. At this point I most likely *will* vote in the general election, I only said I understood popslut's position and that I was *getting* to that point myself. Again, have not made a decision.
One thing I have determined for sure is that my vote will not go to any of the current Democrats.
I just can't do it man. I've never felt more let down and betrayed than I have by the Democrats over the past couple of years, particularly by the current congress and so called liberal groups such as moveon.
I can not and will not vote for the Democratic party. And I will never cast the "lesser of two evils" vote ever again. I refuse to be a part of it.
I do have a party I am considering joining, and if/when I do I will be active with them, and I will continue to be active working for change in my community as I have been for the past 5 years now.
That's my position, and I present it with all due respect, and I thank you for taking the time to at least think about and respond intelligently to what I've written as opposed to just launching into a thoughtless name calling tirade.
