2016 Postmortem

Flying Squirrel

(3,041 posts)

114. Not buying it, sorry.

Mon May 30, 2016, 01:16 PM

May 2016

I can't vote for "Not Donald Trump" and have my vote subtracted from Trump's votes. I have to positively vote for someone. If I positively vote for any third party candidate, you (and/or others) would say that I'm supporting Trump by withholding my vote from Hillary.

Perhaps there should be a "None of the above" option, hold the election earlier, and if the "None" option wins, the parties have to start from scratch and nominate new candidates. I don't expect that to happen ever, though. But I will not accept the fallacy that I must positively vote for the lesser evil in order to vote against the greater evil. I can and will withhold my vote or vote for a third party, or write in a candidate, if I cannot stomach the idea of positively voting for the lesser evil because it is too evil.

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Voting the lesser of two evils is blackmail [View all] larkrake May 2016 OP

It's a way to cram right wing policies down our throats AgingAmerican May 2016 #1

Correct. Corporations love doing that to us larkrake May 2016 #17

We are being set up by the oligarchy. They win either way. Jackilope May 2016 #26

exactly, throwing breadcrumbs to ducks (Not that we are ducks) larkrake May 2016 #31

More like manure and ducks spit that stuff right back up nolabels May 2016 #76

The ONLY Path To CHANGE Is For US To Stand In TOTAL OPPOSITION To This Ever Worsening Grand Charade CorporatistNation May 2016 #101

So said the Naderites in 2000 annavictorious May 2016 #102

Gore wasnt crammed down our throats AgingAmerican May 2016 #103

no, he was so afflicted by Clinton schrapnal, he didnt have a big enough lead to avoid Jeb's larkrake May 2016 #109

What is exceptionally annoying SheilaT May 2016 #2

agreed- no one is perfect, but some are bent over with heavy luggage larkrake May 2016 #15

I hope you're a straight, white male. Metric System May 2016 #3

What? Race-baiting from Camp Weathervane? Oh, I can't believe that would ever happen... Lizzie Poppet May 2016 #5

I am a female citizen of the world, lived in 11 states and 6 countries and larkrake May 2016 #13

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #4

What future are you talking about? Demsrule86 May 2016 #6

Thank you. I wish we could recommend individual posts. Arkansas Granny May 2016 #9

Right. Shadowflash May 2016 #10

But don't you understand? The faster we let it all sufrommich May 2016 #12

Nothing springs up overnight. Expect years of chaos. Katashi_itto May 2016 #66

this is true larkrake May 2016 #79

Too bad you can't bottle that fear and sell it. Mike__M May 2016 #27

if if if if if, are you so afraid? you really think congress ia going to listen to this conman? larkrake May 2016 #36

translations DonCoquixote May 2016 #72

well I am an under-privileged old lady so let me explain. larkrake May 2016 #83

It costs $100 for a passport and jobs are readily available elsewhere, just not here. DonCoquixote May 2016 #105

the children and poor get free education and healthcare in Europe, they dont have to be citizens larkrake May 2016 #107

+1,000,000 Mz Pip May 2016 #77

yes thank you MFM008 May 2016 #78

are you insane? larkrake May 2016 #84

Our system is voluntary voting with a secret ballot. Feathery Scout May 2016 #7

a two party system is blackmail larkrake May 2016 #37

There are multiple parties running candidates for POTUS and down ticket seats. Feathery Scout May 2016 #67

Alot of folks are not aware of this fact, and the media wont help these good candidates larkrake May 2016 #85

Said every Paulite ever. sufrommich May 2016 #8

well, it is a stretch that this is a country since the civil war. The south never joined larkrake May 2016 #29

Once they get you to violate your principles Jester Messiah May 2016 #11

yes, sort of like a wife-beating victim, stays because it MIGHT be worse if she leaves larkrake May 2016 #23

... SidDithers May 2016 #14

Use of the word moron to make your point is moronic. EndElectoral May 2016 #21

+1000. nt sufrommich May 2016 #22

Put it this way: opiate69 May 2016 #24

Do whatever you want Tavarious Jackson May 2016 #16

then vote Hill, its your belief and no one should bring up larkrake May 2016 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author TM99 May 2016 #99

It is blackmail, and it's an ugly way to force people to give up their freedom Hydra May 2016 #18

this is true, and has worked for many decades larkrake May 2016 #19

Have no fear GulfCoast66 May 2016 #104

If you believe a Trump presidency wouldn't be a unmitigated disaster you need a life counselor. DemocratSinceBirth May 2016 #25

No, it's not blackmail Nonhlanhla May 2016 #28

Interesting theory, yet I hear it as a truthful excuse larkrake May 2016 #30

That's exactly the kind of system the two parties here are fighting to prevent. NorthCarolina May 2016 #41

Truer words were never spoken which is why we need term limits in congress larkrake May 2016 #52

That is the absolute proof that the system is only for the few farleftlib May 2016 #73

Well, we have the best possible system.....for Them. NorthCarolina May 2016 #75

Damn skippy (eom) farleftlib May 2016 #82

True, and some candidates are sounding like lobbyists larkrake May 2016 #86

Blackmail is also threatening to help Trump win geek tragedy May 2016 #32

yes, the threat is there like a hemorrhoid, but she will win larkrake May 2016 #53

It is a just a figure of speech. It means no candidate is perfectly aligned w me emulatorloo May 2016 #33

That is the calculus you have to make, my point exactly. We all have to make larkrake May 2016 #42

The way to make third parties nationally viable is to start locally emulatorloo May 2016 #45

absolutely. These races are far more vital than the presidency larkrake May 2016 #55

That is a lie.. there are no lesser than two evils Peacetrain May 2016 #34

peanut butter smooth or peanutbutter chunky, you still larkrake May 2016 #50

It is simple politics gollygee May 2016 #35

So have more options larkrake May 2016 #46

That isn't how our system works gollygee May 2016 #48

I dont expect anything to change this year, it was decided in '08,it was then larkrake May 2016 #58

Things will change if Trump were to become president. gollygee May 2016 #68

I don't feel that way shanti May 2016 #71

She's part of the establishment gollygee May 2016 #74

just more wars and trade deals larkrake May 2016 #87

Calling Clinton evil is stupid. Destroys any further serious conversation. seabeyond May 2016 #38

JFK quote pdsimdars May 2016 #39

You think JFK wouldn't have voted for Clinton over trump? gollygee May 2016 #40

I'm pretty sure JFK would feel the Bern larkrake May 2016 #43

I'm not talking about Bernie vs. Clinton gollygee May 2016 #44

or not voting Pres at all, just support down ticket to prevent the inevitable destruction larkrake May 2016 #59

Right now, in case you are uninformed, there is no such thing as "Trump over Clinton" pdsimdars May 2016 #69

The OP is about the "lesser of two evils" which is about Trump vs. Clinton gollygee May 2016 #70

yes, I was referring to the GE scenario larkrake May 2016 #96

This message was self-deleted by its author gollygee May 2016 #98

Keep watching. pdsimdars May 2016 #113

clinton has the demographics, she will win, but will never be loved larkrake May 2016 #88

so true in all options in life larkrake May 2016 #47

Thank you. Yes, it is like blackmail. Even has that "strong arm" feel to it. senz May 2016 #49

Stay home already. JoePhilly May 2016 #51

Living in the real world is tough at times Gothmog May 2016 #54

Reality is- if you dont like it, change it. As Americans, that should be instinctive larkrake May 2016 #60

But it's considered bad manners to point that out in polite company Babel_17 May 2016 #56

Sadly this is true, it is more like fans rooting for their team instead of their country larkrake May 2016 #61

Every election is that way. lovemydog May 2016 #57

Exactly! I avoided the traffic, went to Estes Park Thursday where students did great at a show, larkrake May 2016 #62

Oh, how beautiful! lovemydog May 2016 #65

yes, nature is my religion and a big dose of reality larkrake May 2016 #89

Third way or the highway Babel_17 May 2016 #63

What a great analogy, thank you for a wordless op followup larkrake May 2016 #64

So, stay the hell home. Nobody is blackmailing you. No one is forcing you to do anything. TwilightZone May 2016 #80

Never ever stay home, vote senate and reps to save the country larkrake May 2016 #92

And then if Trump is elected Demsrule86 May 2016 #81

broken record here larkrake May 2016 #93

Concur laserhaas May 2016 #90

Sanders: "My job is to make sure that Trump does not become president." oberliner May 2016 #91

He means that larkrake May 2016 #94

Advocating for what? Dem2 May 2016 #95

Downticket will be our insurance larkrake May 2016 #97

I always vote against the greater of two evils quaker bill May 2016 #100

Under normal circumstances, perhaps Flying Squirrel May 2016 #106

And incredibly interesting observation Squirrel, and perhaps the catalyst for larkrake May 2016 #108

under any circumstance, the greater of two evils is more evil quaker bill May 2016 #111

Not buying it, sorry. Flying Squirrel May 2016 #114

You can imagine all you like quaker bill May 2016 #115

To the contrary Flying Squirrel May 2016 #116

...my patience with the Democratic Party has reached its limit... quaker bill May 2016 #117

Okay.... XRubicon May 2016 #110

It's sad it's coming down to this, we deserve better than Hillary and Trump! B Calm May 2016 #112