swaits.com

How I'm Voting This Fall

Posted by Stephen Waits Fri, 06 Oct 2006 20:59:00 GMT

Here’s my secret ballot. Oops, it’s not a secret. Truth is, I have nothing to hide and I just feel like yapping.

I’m a registered Democrat. But I’ve not voted Dems in a very long time. I’ve wanted to switch the registration to Independent a few times, but then I usually decide against it since it let’s me vote in (or taint) some primaries.

Anyway, we’re coming up on the mid-terms. These are my plans.

Calfornia Referendae

California has quite a few propositions on the ballot, and here’s how I’m voting on them:

• Bond measures. Definite *NO* on anything that’s a bond measure. I quickly counted over $40 BILLION in bond measures! OMFG.. $40 BILLION. That’s debt that we cannot afford. Oh, I don’t fall for the education needs more money crap - it’s not the answer.

• State funded campaigns: Probably YES, but I need to do a bit more research.

• Tobacco tax. Definite YES. I’m sick of all the ads on my TV spewing crap - and when I read the very end of the very fine print it says “R.J. Reynolds”, or “Smokless Tobacco Company”. You liars, I hope you have to pay. Plus I don’t smoke.

• Oil tax. Definite YES. Same as tobacco, except the company is “Chevron”. Plus, I don’t think this will change gasoline prices, which are market driven. Even if it does, I don’t care. I like high gasoline prices. Less giant SUVs on the road means better bicycling and motorcycling for me, and less traffic jams for everyone.

There are a few other things about amending the State Constitution blah blah blah. I’ll either abstain, or read more about it as we get closer.

Elected Offices

Now, as for how I’m voting on actual humans…

In years past I really identified strongly with the Natural Law Party. Unfortunately, they’ve whithered away into a project called the U.S. Peace Government. Now, the party I most identify with is the Libertarian Party.

These days are bad days in the world of U.S. Government. I believe they’re all crooks and liars, they’re all bad, they all need to go away. Something needs to be done. So, here’s my voting strategy, which was inspired by a friend of a friend.

• I will not vote for any incumbent in any office.

• If the incumbent is a Republican, I’ll vote Democrat.

• If the incumbent is a Democrat, I’ll vote Libertarian.

• Next up, Green, then maybe I’ll just play roulette. Maybe I’ll try to guess which one doesn’t believe in the whole jesus fable and pick them?

I usually do not vote by party. Instead, I’ve historically selected candidates on an individual basis; however, I think this is the right way to go this time around.

That’s it. That’s my conscience, that’s my vote. I hope that with these elections we can start down the path of fixing the giant mess.

And, finally, I hope you’ll all go out and vote your collective conscience this Fall.