Vote

Just got back from the polling place for the California Recall Election, which the government was kind enough to put in someone’s garage across the street from my house. There was free coffee served from paper cups on a Pottery Barn TV tray. I think the apple pie was still in the oven.
And yeah, I voted for a new California Governor and for (or rather, against) a couple of propositions. Given the whole “secret ballot” thing, I won’t tell you who I backed as the Governor. Let’s just say that tomorrow is my birthday and I don’t want to get “Governor Schwartzenegger” for a gift.
Some folks I know are of the opinion that even if there’s a candidate you like more, you should vote for the guy or gal that has the best chance of beating the guy or gal that you hate the most. It’s kind of like anti-voting. This goes hand-in-hand with the whole “a vote for anyone besides Bustamante is a vote for Schwartzenegger” dictum, as well as the “let’s keep Davis in office ’cause otherwise Schwartzenegger will win” position (which bears a strong resemblance to the fetal position). That’s a perfectly valid position –one that millions of smart, politically aware people make.
I, on the other hand, feel that I need to vote my conscience, even if it means “throwing away” my vote on a poor schmuck that I think is the best choice, but everybody on the planet knows doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of winning. Why? Because I only have one vote, and let’s be honest: That vote doesn’t really mean much. It’s not going to affect the outcome. I’m voting because I think it’s the right thing to do, and I’m doing it to satisfy my sense of obligation. I’m voting for my sake, not the theirs. I voted my conscience because it let me walk away from the booth feeling good, if a little helpless.

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