Comments on: I Didn’t Vote!

By: Nathaniel

Nathaniel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

I just noticed this post as I was scrolling through my Google Reader. I must have missed it at the time–not sure how that happened. Either way, thanks for granting the request!

By: Eric H

Eric H — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Don–

How do you square this position with your rationale for working at an institution that receives state funds?

I’m not trying to call you out on this, because you are free to do whatever you want. But I think I know the answer. The marginal value of your vote as a freedom lover is tiny, while the marginal value of your teaching hour is high. You are able to influence more people through teaching and writing than voting. Essentially, your civic-minded students vote for you by proxy. That is, until they come around to your way of thinking!

I think your position is commendable, but it’s also disheartening. One of my knee jerk responses to your Freeman piece was “This is why libertarians get so little political traction.” Thinking about it for awhile, my considered response is “libertarians get so little political traction because getting political traction isn’t what life is all about.”

By: LibertyZero

LibertyZero — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:47:00 +0000

What we need is instant runoff voting. I deplore holding my nose when I go in to vote. It’s a slap in the face to everyone who has ever felt he had to vote against, rather than for, a candidate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Except your signal strength is very low, so the system just shrugs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:56:00 +0000

No matter what I think libertarian-minded people are screwed. We get the option to vote for a Republican, but that’s a losing proposition as most GOPers are big tax-and-spend liberals anyways. Essentially America has lurched to the left big time the last few years and it’s time to hunker down, shift assets to gold.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:54:00 +0000

The first comment my muirbot that vaguely makes any sense in about 3 years.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Ha ha ha.

Voting is one of those strange things that is really “important” as a societal norm yet it isn’t. There are a number of areas of life like this that would boggle some neutral third party.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:56:00 +0000

You should tell them your motivation (psychological satisfaction) and then throw in that the alternative was not voting at all. Just for fun.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:36:00 +0000

partisans deserve to be ticked off. it’s essentially what they signed up for – to be perpetually offended.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Voting LP also really ticks off Democrat and Republican partisans too.

“You did what? You wasted your vote? You fool!”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Or just make sure the parties don’t exist for their own sake.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

It does undermine the system, or more precisely, it undermines the propaganda of the system. Disrespect has brought down many a seemingly invinceable regime and the Progressives will be no exception. You know its true, or you wouldn’t bother to comment here.

By: JohnK

JohnK — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

An intelligent post from muirgeo… call Guinness!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:00 +0000

*LOL*

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:59:00 +0000

There’s a lot to be said for psychological satisfaction. It does have a much bigger impact on you than your vote does on the election. Congratulations on finding a way to extract the maximum benefit from your vote, sir

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:59:00 +0000

It’s not undermining the system. I would like to believe that if greater then 50% of the people voted for a libertarian candidate he/she would be elected and put into office.

I think a great idea would be for independents of all ideologies to start a campaign to NOT vote for either of the major parties. Vote … definitely vote but for some one other then a major party candidate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:00 +0000

One thing I would love some MSM reporter to ask the President or future Presidential candidates is their position on ballot access laws. Something like “Do you agree that ballot access laws are too restrictive, undermine choice and are a means by which corruption ensues?”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Yeah, but it does give me some psychological satisfaction. I think of it as giving the election system the finger.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Your means is not achieving your desired end.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

I vote a straight Libertarian ticket as a means to undermine our rigged election system.