With the Democrats selling out on FISA and the war...

If you actually want Obama or McCain in office, then by all means, vote for them.

I’m really talking to those who are planning to vote for who they perceive to be the ‘lesser of two evils’, rather than a 3rd party candidate they might prefer, simply because they perceive that candidate to ‘have no chance’.

Jimahl, I disagree with your assessment. While it’s true that voting for a third party candidate is not going to cause that candidate to be elected, it does indeed alter the playing field, because a minority vote makes a much louder statement.

Nader, Ron Paul, and even Bob Barr, have no realistic chance of being elected, but the votes they garner will grab much more attention on a per vote basis than will the major party votes.

Toadaly, It is certainly debatable that 3rd party votes get more attention. I think the only time they get more attention is if they actually have an effect on the election, like Nader did in 2000. If they don’t have an impact on the election, than they don’t garner any attention at all,

While I am very unhappy with Obama’s vote, he is not the lesser of two evils. I see Obama as imperfect, as we all are, but he is an extremely qualifed candidate. The most of all the candidates running, including the 3rd party ones.

As far as the value of a vote is concerned, of course one vote only represents approximately 1/120,000,000 of an eleciton (based on the 2004), no matter who you vote for. A 3rd party vote sends just as much, or little, of a message as any dem or rep vote will. I don’t see the point.

My very first presidential vote in 1980 was for a third party candidate (Jon Anderson), and I have regretted ever since. Until a 3rd parties start doing something other than propping someone up every four years to act as a spoiler, I will never vote for one again. While 3rd parties have had limited success in some local elections, they are not successful in federal offices. How about going after a congressioanl seat before aiming for the presidency?

No, I know MY vote isn’t going to elect the candidate… what do you take me for? lol I just won’t vote for a third party until a third party has a chance… hence the “catch 22”… Also, for the most part…I like Obama…

amoeba, does that mean you think your vote IS going to elect the candidate, as long as you vote for a Republican or a Democrat? Surely you must realize the results of the election will be the same regardless of what you personally do with your vote.

sigh

Your vote is not going to decide any national (or even state) election. If you agree with that, then you must realize your vote is nothing more than your voice.

When you vote for the lesser of two evils, you are voicing approval for an endless reign of the republicratic oligarchy.

* “I just won’t vote for a third party until a third party has a chance… “

Why? Is it because you prefer a 50% chance of having guessed right at the winner over a 0.01% chance? If your vote is not going to change the outcome, then why would you want to use it to show approval for a candidate you don’t actually want in office? That makes no sense.

I totally agree… lol. One trick deployed on the public is to marginalize 3rd party candidates. We are stuck with the lesser of two evils… It is inane!

The votes are wasted anyway. The facade of a free democratic republic is maintained by the poll results in which we choose between two individuals never wanted in the first place. We lend silent approval by not bucking the system.

This is not a democratic republic. It is in fact a plutocracy in disguise. We are all the subjects of—not the people of.

Ok, I kinda get where you’re coming from, but realistically a third party isnt going to win… This is precisely why Bush has been in power for the last 8 years, people thought it would be better not to vote, or to vote for an independant, and the world got stuck with Bush!

It is a “catch 22”… If you vote for a third party candidate, you are sending a message… but your vote for a third party candidate is not going to elect the official candidate…

as far as this election…I will vote for Obama.

I stated that I like Obama. I would not vote for Obama or any candidate for that matter based on who is the lesser of two evils. It is clear to me that Obama is the candidate I want for president. Do I agree with everything he says or does, no. Is there ever a candidate that I would agree with straight across the board? No. I do my research and decide based on that.