From: ipser@solomon.technet.sg (Ed Ipser)
Subject: Re: Why should I vote for Marrou?
Keywords: snowball's chance
Organization: TECHNET, Singapore
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 02:50:53 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.170318.13169@iplmail.orl.mmc.com> steveg@iplmail.orl.mmc.com (Steve Gabrilowitz) writes:

>I've recently realized just how much the Libertarian platform agrees
>with my personal political beliefs, and am looking for more
>information.  From what I know of Marrou and what he stands for the
>biggest problem I have with casting my ballot for him is this:

>How can I vote for a candidate who admits he has no chance of winning?
>Isn't this just about the same as throwing my vote away, or just plain
>not voting at all?

First, let me broaden the question a bit: Why Vote Libertarian?

The answer is simple:

  1) No, Marrou has abosolutely no changce of winning but many other
     Libertarian candidates do. There are many Libertarian candidates
     holding offices nationwide and there will likely be many more after
     November.

  2) Supporting Libertarian candidates, like Marrou, who have no chance of
     winning is not throwing your vote away any more than is putting your
     money in the bank; voting for Marrou is an investment in the future
     since as support for the Libertarian candidate grows from election to
     election, his support will grow and so on.

  3) Even in the short run, voting for Marrou is anything but throwing your
     vote away. For one thing, a vote for Marrou has significantly greater
     relative impact. The Libertarian Party expects to double its vote this
     election. Obviously the "major" parties cannot make that claim. For
     another, voting Libertarian makes a definite and clear statement about
     your political convictions that not voting cannot make.

  4) Voting for Marrou, if nothing else, is a positive and constructive
     "none of the above" vote. Again, in contrast to staying home, voting
     Libertarian lets the pundits know that the drain in support for the 
     Republicrats was not merely votor apathy or laziness.

  5) Voting Libertarian weakens each of the  major parties without giving
     strength to the other. When the votes are counted, you can be sure that
     a significant increase in Libertarian support will have a number of
     effects foremost of which is that libertarianism will gain in respect
     and libertarian ideas will gain the attention that they deserve. This
     will help to frame future issues and debates in libertarian terms and
     will eventually undermine the socialist cabal that the Demopublicans
     have created.

  6) By voting for Libertarian you will have an incredible impact upon
     the procprimary process as new politicians will see the swing in votes
     away from the failed policies toward "those Libertarians" and will
     seek to bring that support back into the respective parties. Thus,
     even in defeat, the Libertarians will affect public policy.

  7) Finally, Voting for Marrou give you the satisfaction of having NOT
     voted for whatever scum happens to win the horse race. If Bush wins,
     and raises taxes, again, you can say "I'm no fool, I didn't read his
     lips this time." If Clinton wins and becomes a rubber stamp for the 
     Congressional hogs, you can say: "Don't blame me, I voted Libertarian."
     Especially when neither candidate has any redeeming qualities, voting
     Libertarian can be an extremely gratifying experience.

About the only legitimate reason not to vote Libertarian is if you
sincerely believe that one candidate is significantly better than the
other and that your one vote can make a difference. (Even then, though,
you should recognize that you are sacrificing long term gains for
short term obejectives.)

Otherwise, you should vote according to your convictions.
Xref: sparky alt.politics.libertarian:472 alt.society.anarchy:287