Wednesday, November 8, 2000

No Need to Vote for the Lesser of Evils Chris Armstrong

Whenever talk of voting for a third party candidate comes about, many people feel the need to bring about the "Wasting your vote," cliché. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Did you notice anything during the Republican and Democratic conventions? Beyond the catch phrases of "working families" and "compassionate conservativism," there is very little difference between parties. Targeted tax cuts vs. across the board tax cuts, the socialization of health care vs. the socialization of education, and both in favor of bigger government, bigger government, bigger government (and subsequently more taxes, more taxes, more taxes).

Republicans, once the great hope for small-government conservatives, have proven to be nearly identical to Democrats. From vote buying through federal programs, to going back on nearly every promise, it is getting harder and harder to notice any difference between a donkey and an elephant.

Remember the 200 federal programs the GOP put on their "hit list"? Not only are these programs still around, but they are even larger. Between 1996 and 2000, with Republicans in the Congress, spending on these 200 programs increased from $41.1 billion to $46.6 billion. Wasteful spending on federally controlled Education, Energy (which the GOP was sworn to abolish), and Commerce departments rose by eight percent.

Even a look at most third parties leaves one ready to throw their hands up at the whole election system. Yet beyond Nader and the Green Party communist-based agenda, and (albeit one-half of the reform party) Buchanan's tired rhetoric, the Libertarian party offers a chance to actually vote for something rather than against a greater evil.

For all those tired of an intrusive government, sickened by the idea of the federal government seizing 38 percent of your income, and who believe that they can take care of themselves better than the imperial federal government can, there is still a chance to vote your heart this election. Harry Browne and the Libertarian party represent a chance to vote for individual freedom and personal responsibility, a hope for the freedoms and liberties the United States was founded upon.

No, Harry Browne isn't going to win this November. No, the American voters aren't intelligent enough to realize the dangers of the our government as it creeps along a line towards socialism and fascism.

A vote for liberty, a vote from your heart, can never be a waste of a vote. Every movement begins like a snowball. Rolling down the hill, it may be small and weak. But for every snowflake that attaches, every new person that hears the truth and joins aboard, the movement grows and becomes more powerful. Eventually, as the message of the Libertarian party grows, it will become a force which cannot be stopped.

Don't waste your vote this November. A vote for the Democrats or Republicans is a vote for government as usual. Vote your heart, vote for freedom, vote Libertarian.

Christopher Armstrong

Peachtree City

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page