General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So does it come down to this - the best candidates for our principles "can't win", so we must [View all]MineralMan
(147,073 posts)Voting in this country is a group thing. Primary elections let voters choose the candidates who will be on the general election ballot. So, you should always vote for the candidate you support the most in primary elections. If the group of voters also votes in the majority, or the plurality, for that candidate, he or she will be on the general election ballot.
However, if the candidate you prefer in the primaries does not win, the group of voters have decided in favor of another candidate. One person, one vote. In general elections, almost always, you have a binary choice. You can vote for a Democrat or a Republican in most partisan races. There may be third party candidates, too, but they are unlikely to win in most races.
You may have very strong views, but that does not mean that your views will prevail. It is the entire group of voters that decides who is the winner. That's the system we use. In any election, you can choose not to vote at all, of course. In that case, however, your voice is silent and you have no role in the decision. Nobody hears or benefits from your opinion.
Voting is a choice in the United States. Make your choice count for something.