In the past I would have voted for Dale Ogden, as I am and have always been a registered Libertarian, am generally in agreement with the platform of the Libertarian Party (less so these days than before), and have always refused to vote for Republicans or Democrats in statewide offices. Since the last major election I have become more principled and I will now abstain from voting altogether. Why, you ask? Because voting is an act of violence.
Those of you who opposed candidate Obama are probably horrified by what has taken place since he was elected president, and wish that "your guy" (or "gal") had gotten in instead. He's raised your taxes, taken away more of your freedoms, grown the size and scope of government, and done innumerable other things that go against what you believe. All of these things are true. But the real truth is that those who voted for him have committed an act of violence against you. They wanted him to do all of those things (or most of them, anyway), and now you are suffering for it. That is what democracy, in any form, brings us. 51% of the people forcing their will on the other 49%. Or two wolves and one lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
Now I believe that the only way for any of us to be free is to be free of the state itself. And because of that I cannot support or participate in any part of it, no matter how good my intentions are. I'm sure that all of those Obama supporters who voted for him had the best of intentions in their hearts. They really think that more taxes, more government, more "security" (code for less freedoms and an empowered police state), etc., are good things for all of us. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Dale Ogden and I probably see eye to eye on more things than we don't, but someone, somewhere, is going to suffer because of my vote for him. Especially if he manages to win. So I won't cast that vote. I want to live in a world with more peace, and less violence. Not taking part in a system of violence is a first step toward that goal. I can't in good conscience participate in a system that is based on violence and coercion, and that is ultimately what you get with any form of government. After all, government is really nothing more than a monopoly on the use of force.
The next step in not participating in the system of violence is to stop funding that system. I would love to vote Yes on Prop 19, not because I love pot, but because I don't think anyone should be thrown into a cage for smoking it. I want to cast that vote, but I won't, because I have never and will never vote for anything that raises or creates a tax. It saddens me to think that the people who advocated for cannabis legalization felt the only way they could legitimize their cause was to give it over to government regulation and revenue generation. That is really, really horrible. If compassion for your fellow human beings can't bring you to do the right thing, then all is truly lost.
I'm going to stop paying taxes soon. Wish me luck.
Yes, government is force. But voting is not. At least not in a constitutional representative republic...which is what we are supposed to be. Wewd, I understand your frustrations, but choosing to not vote is not the answer. In order to be represented your voice must be heard and voting is the key manner in which this is accomplished. Yes, you can call your reps (and should), but also one must vote.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. -- Declaration of Independence
Do not forget these great words. Without limited government, there is anarchy, and with the voids that anarchy creates the destruction of liberty is sure to ensue. During the first 100 or so years of this nation, much of the original intentions were well understood and left alone, even protected. And the nation prospered beyond belief. It's only been the last 100 years or so that the progressives have become more and more powerful and have slowly and continuously de-constructed the founding ideas and principles. Sure, it (our original form of government) wasn't perfect, but it was the best thing to come around in, well, virtually ever.
If you vote in a manner that upholds the Constitution, then your vote is not an act of violence. Any vote that supports, defends, and promotes liberty is not a violent act. It may not help someone, but then again the idea of limited government is not help someone, but rather to allow them to help themselves. For example, voting down a social program is not a violent act. If you feel guilty about it, then freely donate to their cause from your own pocket, and not from the pockets of others. To vote for a social program is an act of violence, because it forces the taking from one to give to another.
A truer, more loyal position to your statements would be to not vote in any of CA's referendums. That is democracy, that is force, and that is dangerous. The problem with CA is not only those in the legislature, but also the state constitution itself. While I have never read it in its entirety, the fact that its so long and drawn out is the problem. In a nutshell, there are many other states with much better state constitutions, and without much surprise those states in general have been able to protect individual freedoms and liberties.
Regarding taxes I agree 100%, defunding the government and its social programs is one good way to stop the carnage.
During the past couple of years, I have really awoken myself to the realities about our federal, state, and local forms of government. To this day as I continue to research more and learn more, it becomes more and more clear just how far we have gone astray. At this point all I, or anyone, can do is make the voice of liberty a little louder, continue to educate ourselves to the true form of government we were given, teach our children what should be, not what is, hold our elected representatives accountable, and persevere.
She's the most determined to put this state in the right direction... No Public unions, no non-essential spending, cutback on entitlements, cut back redundant public sector jobs... Up against some strong opposition, but I'm voting with my conscience. We all need to. Otherwise we end up the "Lesser of two evils".
