The subject of voting has been coming up a lot recently as we inch closer to the general election. I have recently been having a long back and forth conversation with a self described libertarian, who sports a "Fuck the Republicrats: Vote independent" banner on his myspace page, who has been desparately urging me to vote for McCain.
His primary reason seems to be that I am underestimating the damage that a Clinton or Obama administration might inflict on us, so he has reasoned that we would be best to vote against them. He is also a bit of a war hawk, and is attracted to McCain's "follow Bin-Laden to the gates of hell" mentality.
I have been appealing to the libertarian non-aggression principle as a reason not to support a mainstream party, but to no avail. In full disclosure, I should point out that our state is sort of an anomoly in that we have the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation, so we usually do not get the opportunity to vote for L candidates. Given this local state of affairs, I usually go to the polls to vote against bond issues, occassionally for politicians in local elections, and I default to non-voting in the general presidential election as a means of voicing my lack of a viable choice for president.
I brought this up today because I have a question for my anti-statist allies in the blogosphere. Do you plan on voting in the general election, and if so who for?
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8 comments:
Do you plan on voting in the general election, and if so who for?
I intend to vote for Dr. Ron Paul in November, whether he is on the ballot or not. It would be the first time I've ever "written in" a candidate, and I can't think of anyone better to be my first.
Just a question, if your blog is called "Against the State" implying that you are a libertarian anarchist (Market Anarchist) wouldn't that make any voting immoral and a violation of the NAP?
That's a fair question Matthew. I have struggled with the morality of voting for the past 4 years. I do basically consider myself a market anarchist, but I've never completely let go of the most minimul functions of government. My blog is called Against The State because I recognize an "us verses them" dichotomy, and the need to put out the kinds of ideas to beat the state down to the smallest levels possible.
Now maybe I haven't been paying attention to something that I should have, but please tell me, what is the NAP?
That is the "Non-Aggression Principle" that no individual has the right to initiate aggression against another invididual.
Although some say otherwise, most Market Anarchists see voting as an act of indirect aggression, asking the individual you are voting for to initiate violence whether in the form of taxation or otherwise.
btw: sorry this took so long.
I guess I'm just not very good with acronyms. I know the non-aggression principle very well, in fact I frequently list it as one of my interests on social networking websites.
I was first introduced to the NAP while reading a book by L. Neil Smith, who some years ago either ran or considered seeking the nomination for President on the LP ticket.
I am highly drawn to the NAP as a guiding philosophy, and I understand that when taken to its' logical ends, voting is really not an option. My struggle is that I can't see that non-voting, even among larger numbers of us, will be a catalyst of change for society in a more libertarian direction.
Well...
Let's examine what voting has done, and what it is capable of. How many times in history has the voting power of "The People" changed the society of the United States for the better? You could claim that Ronald Regan would be a good example, however, many of the things he did were far from libertarian, his foriegn policy was not near perfect ect. Voters brought us Hitler, FDR, Linclon, TR, Bill Clinton, and "The Decider". Ron Paul was a tempting individual, but not only was he wrong on borders, but so few people apparently supported him, and recent studies have found that 45% of people vote for the last person they see on TV. The minority of Liberty lovers in the nation, Minarchist, Anarchist and otherwise, waste their time trying to get elected, Ron's luck and sheer powress were extremily surprising though, and a sound experiment in a totally grassroots campaign. However, the additudes of many Americans toward the sinlge well informed individual on the debate stage was frightening. Dr. Paul knew the most about economics, foriegn policy, history, and even theology (Christ was the Prince of Peace) even more so than our so-called-Reverend Huckabee, yet he was booed, humiliated, called names, and rejected by the general public. In my view, the best thing someone could do for Liberty is to spread the word (as you and I do, and MANY others) and use the Agorist counter-economic strategy. Maybe even seasteads and small communities would be a good step if there are enough of us, and we are well organized.
I do not vote, strategic or otherwise, at any political level - period.
Recent events up here in Canada have shown more people than ever that our current system is flawed beyond repair - supporting that (or any failed) system through participation in its' recreation every four years will not effect change.
"If voting changed anything they would've made it illegal"
But alas, this is not my country.
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