From: Francis Hwang <sera@...>
Date: 2004-11-02T23:54:01+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] US Presidential Election

Corey, I agree with much of what you say in this matter, but I wonder 
if it's going to have an effect. The centrist committees who control 
most of the money in the Republican and Democratic parties are not, in 
fact, sitting around wringing their hands about somebody like you. On a 
symbolic level, the choice of opting out of the voting system is a 
principled, and perhaps admirable way of communicating your 
dissatisfaction with the narrow range of choices presented on Election 
Day. But on a practical level, your non-vote is going to get counted as 
one more voice that doesn't count.

Why note go to the polls and vote for Badnarik? Or another third-party 
candidate? Such a vote would get a third party one step closer to 
getting a little help with advancing their cause next time 'round.

Unless you've decided to exercise your political power in another way. 
And no, blogging and writing on a mailing list doesn't count.

Francis

On Nov 2, 2004, at 2:06 AM, Corey wrote:
> I have a different message:  Don't vote at all, please.
>
> Stop participating in a thoroughly illegitimate and unethical
> process that's founded on violence, coercion and deceit.
>
> So, to answer the original poster's question:  I won't be
> voting at all - not out of apathy, laziness or ignorance, but
> due strictly from my own good conscience.
>
> http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/saltiel/saltiel1.html
>
> Regardless of me being a libertarian ( i.e. anarchist ), and my
> decision not to vote as a matter of principle - Chomsky put it
> quite well recently:
>
> "In the forthcoming presidential elections in the US, there is a
> choice: between two candidates who were born to wealth and political
> power, attended the same elite university, joined the same secret
> society that instructs members in the style and manners of the
> rulers, and are able to run because they are funded by largely the
> same corporate powers."
>
> You're only so free in this country as what will maintain
> capitalism and the status quo. Corporate and foreign interests
> run the country, not the "president" - and certainly not the people.
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Corey
>