Some seem overwhelmed with the decision. Others feel the process is a sham and there is no point in participating.
This historic election, we have a group that is more vocal about their reason. They won’t vote for the nominee if it isn’t their primary candidate. If there are enough of them - and the percentages are plenty- McCain could take the WH. This possibility is not real to some. Despite the irrefutable evidence that the bigger numbers defeat not only the Republicon candidates, but also the interference with the election process, from registration to count.
We are all accustomed to taking risks in life. As simple as running a red light at 3 in the morning when the light won’t change and there isn’t another car to be seen. To chucking birth control in a moment of passion. As I pointed out to a few guys four decades ago, there is no such thing as being 3% pregnant.
Let’s try visualizing election night ‘08. Replay ‘04.
Now let’s visualize ‘09, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12.
- Will we be reasonably better off economically by the end of those 4 years?
- Will any more of the 9/11 Commission recommendations have been put in effect?
- Will the bridges be falling down?
- Will health care be available to all Americans at a price their incomes will cover?
- Will we have an energy policy that is in place and making progress towards energy independence?
- Will the school systems still be ‘teaching to the test’ or to the students’ needs?
- Will there be food and water rationing? Will it be equitable?
- Will the national debt our children and grandchildren will pay down be 5, 10, ? % higher?
- Will our position in the world court of opinion be any better?
- Will we still be occupying Iraq and Afghanistan? Will we have bombed or invaded Iran or any other nation?
- Will there be a 7 to 2 majority of ultraconservative Supreme Court Justices?
- Will there be a Constitution to defend against all enemies, both foreign and domestic?
Will there be a Constitution to defend us?
- Will the 9/11 responders and our veterans, especially the injured, be getting the physical, mental and economic care they have so heroically earned in service to this country and our Constitution?
We will be doing well if we can make significant progress in most of these with both a Democratic White House and Congress. They are not easy problems to solve. Especially given the serious crises among them.
I have voted in 9 presidential elections. Two candidates were close to ideal for me. They lost. Seven times my primary candidates were nominated. Nixon, Carter and Clinton went to the WH. Two of those elections were protest votes, in my Libertarian phase. In Alaska, in it’s flaming red era. In this election, if I were in a flaming red state, I would still vote for the Democratic nominee, just to maximize the mandate for change.
I’m not sure what all the arguments are to refuse to vote for a candidate the majority (however slim) of your party members have chosen. Regardless of how delusional or unreasoned anyone thinks these other voters are, the fact is they voted. There are some very significant and respected elected officials who have endorsed both. A frequent comment is that Democrats are faced with TWO inspiring candidates (although I disagree with the common, ‘compared to none’). The ‘Dream Ticket’ for many would be both (although I refer to it as the nightmare ticket).
I am asking those who are thinking this to try to gain better insight into their true reasons. To examine them carefully against the potential cost of abdicating your right to vote.
As an RN, I have to ask you to specifically remember the treatment our veterans have been getting under this administration. John, who was against torture before he voted for it, McSame cannot be trusted to cooperate with this expensive obligation.
How many Americans regret not voting in 2000 and 2004?
How many of us regret that they did not vote?