FM: John Whitbeck
Some of my American distinguished recipients may find the polling numbers cited in the message from Jill Stein's presidential campaign transmitted below of interest.
It has inspired me to convey two "truisms", at least for me, which are rarely cited during political campaigns.
First, the argument trumpeted by supporters of a major party candidate that a vote for a third-party candidate is effectively a vote for the other major party candidate is rubbish. Having voted for four different third-party presidential candidates (including, last week, for Jill Stein for the third time), I am convinced that the alternative for the overwhelming majority of those who vote for a third-party candidate with no conceivable chance of being elected is not voting at all (my choice in 2020, when Jill was not a candidate).
My second "truism" flows from the first. Since no individual, even among those voting in one of the seven "battleground" states for which the result is not certain in advance, can seriously believe that his or her one vote could determine who is elected president, the only reason for voting is for the moral and/or emotional satisfaction which one derives from the values and convictions reflected in one's vote, and there is precious little such satisfaction to be derived from voting for the "lesser evil" of two candidates with whom one disagrees profoundly on the issues, values and convictions of greatest importance to you.
![]()
Some of my American distinguished recipients may find the polling numbers cited in the message from Jill Stein's presidential campaign transmitted below of interest.
It has inspired me to convey two "truisms", at least for me, which are rarely cited during political campaigns.
First, the argument trumpeted by supporters of a major party candidate that a vote for a third-party candidate is effectively a vote for the other major party candidate is rubbish. Having voted for four different third-party presidential candidates (including, last week, for Jill Stein for the third time), I am convinced that the alternative for the overwhelming majority of those who vote for a third-party candidate with no conceivable chance of being elected is not voting at all (my choice in 2020, when Jill was not a candidate).
My second "truism" flows from the first. Since no individual, even among those voting in one of the seven "battleground" states for which the result is not certain in advance, can seriously believe that his or her one vote could determine who is elected president, the only reason for voting is for the moral and/or emotional satisfaction which one derives from the values and convictions reflected in one's vote, and there is precious little such satisfaction to be derived from voting for the "lesser evil" of two candidates with whom one disagrees profoundly on the issues, values and convictions of greatest importance to you.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whitbeck Blog" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whitbeck-blog+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/whitbeck-blog/191fba81-9848-4ab6-b5fd-27f75fc1678d%40gmail.com.