Ok, so it is 3 weeks until the presidential election and I cannot decide who to vote for. Each candidate has aspects that I like and aspects that I dislike. In fact, each one has things that would make it virtually impossible for me to vote for them under normal circumstances. So, that leads to the question: Do I vote for none of them? Or, do I vote for the one who is the least evil? In other words, do I hold my nose while voting? What I've decided to do is to write up how I see the pros and cons of each candidate and see if I write myself into voting for one of them.
Let's start with President Obama. While I like the fact that he is trying to ensure the welfare of people through healthcare, training, etc., I fundamentally disagree with his position on abortion and (as mentioned before several times) his contraceptive mandate. I have taken a few quizzes and tend to agree with most with President Obama, but I do not think I can get past his support for abortion. I know that this may piss off alot of people, but I honestly do not see any circumstances where abortion should be legal. The only possibility is when the mother's life is endangered, but I think (and I could very easily be wrong here, so not a doctor) that even then every step should be taken to preserve the life of both rather than abort the baby.
As for Mitt Romney, the man has done so many flip-flops on issues and has twisted himself into such a pretzel to accomodate the Tea Party that I don't know what he truly believes anymore. I hope that he is sincere about his anti-abortion beliefs, but I don't know if I can believe it. Between these and his support of issues not congruent with Catholic social teaching (especially within his own family), I am very hard-pressed to vote for him either.
Then there is Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party. To be honest, I have never liked the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party (from everything I have read about them or learned from discussions), basically wants to reduce the government to a tremendously small size. While I admire the Party's stands on issues regarding election reform and other similar issues, I feel that they come too close to approaching anarchy. Not no government, but a government where the only rule is to not infringe on the rights of others, which is an unworkable practical government. In a perfect world where people are angels, it would work, but people are not angels. People are flawed and need some sort of guidance to choose what is right or wrong.
The next choice is Jill Stein of the Green Party. Here, I admire the social justice aspects and the dedication to political equality, I again choke on her beliefs in regard to abortion and other contraceptives. She seems to want to give on-demand access and government funding of these, which is far worse than President Obama's support. I must say that much of what she says I agree with.
Next, we have Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party. Virgil Goode is the only thoroughly pro-life candidate on the ballot. I like this, but what I do not like is that the Constitution Party is more or less the same as the Tea Party, only not within the Republican tent. As such, there are some differences, but many of the problems that I have with the Tea Party and the Libertarian Party are also applicable here.
Finally, we have Rocky Anderson (I believe of the Justice Party). Like Jill Stein, we have a man who is dedicated to political and social equality, which is good. On the abortion issue, he fully supports Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. Once again, a candidate I cannot get behind as a result of this fundamental issue.
I know this may sound like I am a one-issue voter, but really I am not. It is just that this issue of abortion is one of the utmost importance to me. All life is sacred and must be protected from being unjustly taken. Without the right to life, no other right is worth a damn. That is why it forms the cornerstone of my voting patterns.
In closing, I do want to say that if you think I have misrepresented your favorite candidate/party, plese feel free to tell me so *IN A CIVIL MANNER*. Anyone who starts yelling, screaming, cursing, or being abusive will be ignored. I love having good, thought-provoking, civil discussions and welcome people to help me make-up my mind by making me think about things I haven't thought about before.
Thanks!
[Post edited at 3:15 pm on 10/16/12, in the Jill Stein paragraph changed "last choice" to "next choice", added paragraphs on Virgil Goode and Rocky Anderson per comment]
Hey don't forget Rocky Anderson and Virgil Goode. The four independents will debate on )ctober 23rd.
ReplyDeleteHow could you forget Vermin Supreme?? (Every American Deserves a Pony) He looks more viable daily...
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest looking into not only where the candidates stand on the issues, but which issues they are most likely to affect? I'm of the opinion that the States have more effect on the abortion question than the President does, so I think you're perhaps misguided in focusing so much on that aspect when it comes to the Presidential election. Foreign policy and, to a degree, economic policy are much more influenced by the President, I believe.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's incoherent, for this reason, to vote for one party in local elections, a different party for Congress, and maybe even a third one for President.
I think you definitely have a point here. The reason I have a large focus on it here is that I have looked at other factors (mentioned above), but abortion will generally be the deciding; but not the sole; factor in a decision. Will be putting up a post in a day or two about political beliefs where I will explain my focus more specifically.
DeleteI'd also like to put in a respectful word for the Libertarians, Gary Johnson in particular, against the idea that their way lies anarchy. It's more accurate, I think, to say that they believe that people - and local communities, as opposed to a big central government - are better at deciding for themselves what is best. There are many different flavors of Libertarians, but I think the main thing that unites them is a distrust, strictly speaking, for the Federal government. Some distrust all governments, some are just more in favor of local, close-to-home government.
ReplyDeleteYou still probably differ from them because you feel people need some guidance in choosing what is right and wrong; a Libertarian is more likely to feel that it is up to an individual to find their church, community or family that will guide them in right or wrong, instead of giving that power to the government. So I agree you probably don't fit them in that regard; I just wanted to characterize them differently that the way you described.
I appreciate your further explanation. I do want to correct one thing. I didn't say that "their way lies anarchy." What I said was that it is "too close to approaching anarchy." The distinction (at least in my mind) is that I know Libertarians are not anarchists, but the amount to which they wish to cut down government is disturbing.
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