New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

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Democrat or Republican: Are either the right choice?

I submitted my absentee ballot last week, but I did not vote for Barack Obama, the candidate I canvassed for in 2008, or Mitt Romney, his Republican counterpart. And every time I tell somebody that, I’m asked, “Why would you throw away your vote like that?” You would think I was writing in  Kris Kringle the way they look at me.

And each time, I don’t make any pitches. I steer clear of the pathos that tends to come with candidate support because there is a logical appeal to traditional, democratic principle that needs to be examined.

I get it. My candidate won’t win and yours might. Your rationale is that otherwise, my vote may be going to your preferred candidate, and by checking another box I am somehow responsible for a potential loss. But I ask this: What has either major party candidate done to garner my vote? They cannot expect something they never earned.

To liberals who want an end to preventive militarism, a restoration of civil liberties, increased government transparency, and greater economic and social justice, I ask, has Obama helped you out there?

And to the conservatives who want small government, a cutback on executive power, a crackdown on crony capitalism and real job creation, I ask, has Romney shown promise to act on your behalf?

Both of these points simply serve to underscore the inadequacy of these particular candidates, not the two-party structure. It is a choice between an incumbent who has adopted many policy positions he once condemned or a challenger who condemns many of his former policy positions. In other words, they are seasoned politicians — no more; no less.

And yet, there is an uncomfortable ease with which both parties will spit in your face and tell you it’s raining — thanks to their fetish for special interests and a status quo that keeps them powerful. Both parties are fighting for the right to oversee a system that is unjust, not overhaul it. And both thrive on maintaining support by relying on the other to take a position more antithetical to their base’s desires. Voters need to realize the lesser of two evils is still evil, and neither of the two party platforms has our best interests at heart. My vote here assures me that I am not complicit in allowing that to continue.

Salon’s Jonathan Bernstein wrote, “It may take some courage to support someone despite important, serious, substantive reservations. It is, however, what needs to be done in a democracy.” Except it doesn’t. Quite the contrary, it should not be done in a true democracy, which we continually laud ourselves — with no good reason — for having. True democracy invites the people’s voice, even those that are fringe or heterodox or just plain underrepresented. True democracy makes the perfect the enemy of the good.

Even so, it isn’t through voting that true change is accomplished. It takes a combination of activism and dissent, two sides of the same coin. We must actively pursue measures in the public interest while simultaneously threatening to abandon our representatives who threaten to abandon us. It’s the pressure of losing power that results in more populist politics. The continuation of our present system is symptomatic of a culture desperate to evade serious moral self-reflection. So while my vote won’t do much to combat the current state of affairs, I realize greater avenues exist by which a progressive fight can be waged.

So don’t blame me if your candidate loses. Blame a system that is set up to make sure you do, too.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 25 print edition. Chris Dinardo is opinion editor. Email him at [email protected].

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    AndySep 25, 2012 at 2:24 am

    “It takes a combination of activism and dissent, two sides of the same coin.”

    Ok, no offense intended because you can do whatever you want, but throwing a “dissenting” vote that you acknowledge isn’t going to impact this specific election and calling it political activism just sounds lazy. You may very well have written Kris Kringle on your ballot because complaining about our current conundrum without actually stepping up to the plate with a viable solution is what’s really wrong with our nation right now. It would be nice to pretend that our democracy functions as it should and that political involvement as such is truly a stepping stone to achieve democratic process, but you sure ignore a lot of state and local officials who need that president and need your vote to make the exact same ideals you’re talking about possibilities for their local programs and communities. No arts budget, no social security, no social welfare programs, that’s what you get with a vote for Romney. You can vote for him however you choose, but don’t pretend that by enjoying the freedoms purchased with your own comparatively comfortable American existence (purchased by the exploitation of many) and using your very unique liberty to freely vote for someone you know can’t possibly win, noting the parameters you yourself have come to terms with, somehow gives you an ethical high ground not yet achieved by the vast majority of us who are willing to work toward nominal repair to a much flawed system.

    Not buying it.

    Reply