On November 5, 2024, I will vote my conscience.

submitted by risistill me from self.WayOfTheBern

I will not vote for the Republican Presidential nominee nor the Democrat Presidential nominee. https://old.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/mhs1ir/about_voting_democrat_or_republican/

Democrats and Republicans are responsible for an ever-devolving "status quo," both domestic and foreign. (Fillmore, who left office in 1853 was the last POTUS who was neither a Democrat nor a Republican.)

I cannot, in good conscience, vote for either. And yes, I know all the alleged reasons I supposedly should, so, please, don't waste your time, mine and everyone else's.

I will not vote for Cornell West.

West announced his candidacy as the candidate of the People's Party, then switched to Green, then to independent. At least one switch too many, IMO. Opportunist? Too easily led/misled? Didn't look before he leapt? All highly undesirable, but esp. in a POTUS.

His last acts as a Green were hiring Peter Daou and holding a fundraiser for him as the Green Party's Presidential nominee, which the Green Party promoted and to which Green rank and file donated. That was held only a day or so before announcing he was running as an independent. I consider that unethical, if not outright fraud. None of the above facts moves my conscience in his direction. To the contrary.

My general impression? He's stuck in the Sixties, hoping to move the Democrat Party left. He seems less politically savvy than the average WOTBer. For just one thing, he seems to have no idea that the DSA is a sheep dog organization.

Nothing in his background prepares him to govern, IMO. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel_West That alone would not lose my vote because I don't expect any indie to win a Presidential election. However, I cannot, in good conscience, vote for Brother West, for the same kinds of reasons that I cannot, in good conscience, vote for any (other) Democrat, savvy or not, plus what I've seen and heard from over the years and during this campaign.

I will not vote for RFK, Jr.

Like many, I struggled with his supporting Israel despite decades of oppression. https://old.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/16g8bx9/single_issue_voting/

But, his continuing support despite war crime after war crime and ethnic "cleansing," with talk of expanding to Lebanon? Then demanding censorship/punishment of US college students? https://old.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/17q6m0w/rfk_jr_previously_censored_for_alledged/k8adve7/

And, like West, RFK, Jr. may be more Democrat than not, his positions on COVID measures and vaccines notwithstanding.

Unless someone who allows me to vote for POTUS in good conscience announces a run, voting my conscience on November 5, 2024 will mean not voting for POTUS. Ymmv, as is your absolute right. Anyway, it's not as though your vote or mine will change the world. https://old.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/16d71gq/rfk_jr_if_the_dnc_is_going_to_rig_it_so_that_it/jzyof32/

I regret having even struggled with this, even though I did so less than in the past. I keep concluding that I've finally learned my lesson and I keep disappointing myself in that respect.

As cynical as you get, it's never enough to keep up.

Lily Tomlin

all 15 comments
sorted by:
new (suggested)
topinsightfulfun

[–]unagisongsBurn down Reddit! 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I vote to restore the American republic and cast out the oligarchy usurpers that have stolen it.

[–]EddieC 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The full spectrum of Democracy comprises Political, Monetary, Media, Economic, Focal, Paradigm Democracy and more....
 
However, when discussing Democracy, the majority of the population only know & discuss one aspect of it: Political Democracy
or more accurately, at present: Indirect Political Democracy, in which voters only get to:

  • "decide" once every four years, not as and when an issue is to be decided
  • "decide"on their representative, not the actual policies that they want
  • "decide" on the candidates pre-vetted by the Oligarchs, not real candidates who would represent the voters

 
As for all the other areas / spheres of Democracy:

  • they do not have such long lock-in period in-between decision time points
    e.g. Media choice for Redditors / Saiditors can be changed at any point in time
  • the majority, unfortunately, are not cognizant of their rights & ability to choose,
    and thus their decisions are pre-determined/defaulted for them,
    or they "choose" without realizing alternatives are available
    (e.g. the default is Corporations, instead of Co-ops)
    -- thus they "vote" against their own best interests

 
Hence, anyone who takes on the responsibility for self to be a conscientious voter,
must take the foregoing into consideration
in order to be able to fully & properly exercise one's duty and right to vote
so as not to be:

  • shortchanged/usurped of their rights/interests available under the whole spectrum of Democracy
  • or worst, an unwitting facilitator, helping to perpetuate the system that usurps them

 
Also, given the issues noted above wrt the present political system: Indirect Political Democracy
the conscientious voter should actually take it upon self to change the system itself i.e.
from: Indirect Political Democracy that often go against their interest
to: Direct Political Democracy to better ensure that their interests would be served

 
In particular, for the next election,
to be able to reclaim power for the people from the oligarchs @ organized crime
the conscientious voter should consider:

  • for the Congressional elections: vote for their local Co-opecratic Party to reclaim and keep power bottom-down
  • for the Presidential election: write in 'In God We Trust" - and rally people of all religions to do so as well

 

[–]risistill me[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Seems conscience-driven to me!

[–]sdl5 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

My last vote was in Nov 2016-

One last defiant middle finger to the system, and only because MY County had the last legacy high population tabulator with 3 person teams of diverse volunteers sorting initial ballots in the public eye.

Then the State forced an "upgrade" to the known rigged electronic tabulator, and the results and voting patterns were..... "different"... after.

Also, I noted the robust volunteer sorters here all but vanished by 2020 with no sign of returning.

Thus my conscience dictates not participating in a deeply corrupt and rigged system, one that will only use my registration AND any ballot submitted to create the algo where their choices in results appear.

Any person who cannot personally know and verify what kind of ballot processing and tabulator is used, both local and State levels, and cannot confirm it is NOT a corrupted process should do the same.

There is a reason smarter or wiser far more swiftly than myself citizens chose the "do not vote" category long prior to 2016. And every last one of US in the WotB communities should have known better before 2020.

[–]risistill me[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

My last Presidential vote for a Dem in a general was 2008--and I still regret it. Likely always will, mostly because I also donated and volunteered--a lot.

I voted happily for Sanders on Super Tuesday 2016 and for Stein in the general. I did the same, but with a WTF attitude in the 2020 primary, but did not vote for Hawkins in the general.

Were my votes counted as I cast them? No idea. I can only do what I can do. But I will not vote for anyone just because it's election day.

[–]3andfro 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

I've been ready to do that since 2016. Voted for Stein without reservations. Voted for Hawkins in 2020 with nose held. Under no circumstances will I vote D or R next performance. As of now, I don't see a 3rd party or indie offering I can vote for but will continue to watch what unfolds.

If I do reject all names on my ballot for president, I'll write in someone--maybe the late, great George Carlin--to make sure my ballot can't be tampered with in my D super-majority state.

EDIT: u/Maniak just posted this, which gives me a candidate I can support, if she makes it onto my ballot https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/1722641795568259561

Just checked, and the Greens will be on my state's ballot in 2024.

[–]risistill me[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I don't see a 3rd party or indie offering

Did you see Susan's post at reddit?

[–]3andfro 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yes, thanks. Also saw that info posted earlier; see my EDIT at end of comment above.

[–]risistill me[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You're most welcome. I did see your edit, but Susan's post had additional info.

[–]CaelianPost No Toasties 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

Oh, I like Lily Tomlin's comment. It reminds me of "It could be worse, but it will take time" 🥔

[–]risistill me[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Nice.

[–]CaelianPost No Toasties 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (3 children)

In November 2020, Colorado had 23 candidates for President. I expect 2024 to be similar. I plan to vote my conscience, but depending on the choices I may have to vote my funny bone 😺

[–]risistill me[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Best wishes sorting through!

[–]CaelianPost No Toasties 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

Did you know that the Prohibition Party is the oldest 3rd party in the USA? Their mascot is the Bactrian camel, obviously a reference to Kipling's "Can't! Don't! Shan't! Won't!" 🐫

[–]risistill me[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I had no idea they were still around!

DRINK! (even camels do)

Also had no idea

The Prohibition Party has nominated a candidate for president in every election since 1872 ...