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We're told to vote our conscience for President. However, my conscience tells me to cast my vote where it may have an effect, which is, unfortunately, for one of the two major parties.

I'd love to see the cycle broken, an independent President elected, and the Big Two shown that they can't keep crapping on us. But it's not likely to happen in our system.

Voting Independent, Libertarian, or Green may be a great way to make a statement, have something new to brag about at work, or just avoid a tough decision; but is it the proper exercise of our right and fulfillment of our responsibility?

I wont vote republican across the board...

I vote my consience (sp) also... and I start low...

Cody i didn't read your entire post but your vote cast whereever will go to the front runner.. I believe this is what you are asking??

meanwhile even if USAHOG posted the sour grapes on the vine no one would believe him because everyone feels he votes Republican ticket Hardline... LOL
if only they have seen my voting since I was 21 yrs old.. yes I voted 18-19-20 it was my right.. registerd democrat because that was the SOB who came to my house and reg. me... but I voted for Reagan and strait republican ticket when it came around until I was 21 yrs old and then I got involved and read and seen the BS for YEARS.... now I split my ticket and punch my chad for who I think will do the better job... the problem is.. not everybody gives a **** and it makes me sick to see my Country headed to the toilet because of this... here in Illinois I've seen Senators Switch districs and stay on because they knew they would have lost because of the certian districs and people they pissed on/off to stay where they are at...
Probably happens in many States and this is SAD...
I know one thing I'm going to keep my nose clean and I'm stupid enough I'm running in 2008 and going to run on republican ticket and I'm a Nobody!!!!
I just Love my Country!!!!!!!
Justice needs to be served and if it isn't happening at the polls then it's time to get that changed..

the main thing is getting involved and helping out to get Voters to vote their consience (sp) also...
there are way to many uneducated voters out there that don't care... show them it's time to care.. take up a block area in your neighborhood and help get them registered to vote!!!!!!! it will make a difference...
Democratic or Repulican it counts!!!!!!

Hog

The winner-take-all system in the U.S. produces political stability like nowhere else in the world. The two major parties are an outgrowth of this system. That said, the Republican and Democratic parties weren't the first parties in the U.S. Can anyone say "Whig Party?" The winner-take-all system changes, but it changes v e r y s l o w l y. For example, the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln was the party of big, centralized federal government. In recent times the Republican Party has been the party of small, limited federal government. There is a shift taking place right now. It is too soon to predict the result. There will never be a viable third party candidate. However, the political sands may shift and bring one of the fringe groups like the Green Party close enough to the mainstream to get a Congressman elected somewhere. Then two. Then maybe a Senator. Then enough votes to block a bill or force an amendment...then a party is born.

I used to vote for the best person for the job regardless of party affiliation. I'm the one that goes to rallys. I'm the one that researches the issues and the candidates. After President Reagan that changed. To see what could've become with a REAL President like him, with a house and Senate...A lot of the world's issues wouldn't be there now. Instead he had to deal with the Democrats. He didn't have line item veto like GW has(and hasn't used!!!). No, now I vote straight ticket all the way. I want the entire platform unified from top to bottom. No weak links or malcontents. There comes a time when the issues a President ran on become mute because the "other" party(and the can both be accused of this!)"ran out the clock". Typically the sitting President's party loses seats, but not this time. I think that there's more people like me that get what's going on and are finally ready to solidify a party that will get something done versus just jaw-jacking and finger pointing for decades!

Yo coda: Yes a vote can be wasted, simply by not voting ! Ask Rickamaven, he knows alot about not voting and wasting votes. JonR

JonR, wekikther4wer,

That's what they tell us, and it's a lovely sentiment.

My response is that a shot fired into the ground is a shot not fired at the enemy.

Whether we like it or not, many will be faced with choosing the lesser of two evils. Casting a third party vote does not contribute to the counting, except in a negative sense. We can be fairly certain that one of the Big Two will win.

Today I reviewed the electoral college voting history over the previous century. I was surprised at how often third party candidates did get electoral votes; however, none of them were ever a threat to the Big Two.

Coda, that's the atitude that brought us Nixon, you know, the guy everybody voted for to keep Humphrey, them McGovern out? I didn't think Nixon was THAT bad, just got caught at what all those guys do, and I think it STINKS that Clinton got away with the same stuff. (Emenies list, no, we just forgot to return that list of security clearance applicants!) Maybe, if the Third party candidates start to threaten the BIG 2 then the BIG two will start representing the people again! But first the indies gotta find some beleivable candidates
(Nader? fer Crissake?)

Can a vote be wasted? Yeah...look at all the ignorant, brainwashed, sheeple who voted in Arnold Schwarztnegger.