Thomas Simmons comments at The Concord Monitor
In 2010, in New England, a vote for a third party is not a wasted vote; in fact, it is the direction that many Independents and dissatisfued Republicans and Democrats are heading. Third-Party and Independent candidates have won major statewide office in Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut, and have realistic shots at the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Governorships.
Second, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats offer real change: both have supported unconscionable bailouts of favored businesses, not only in Washington, but here in New Hampshire as well: The bi-partisan Executive Council pledged tax dollars to keep the Claremont Eagle afloat. The Fiscal Irresponsibility of the Democrats, with its legacy of taxes on pizza and campsites, and the capture of the Republican Party by it’s extremist religious fringe leaves moderates, independents, and many other voters with no major party to call ‘home.’ Libertarians offer a message that is consistent with the New Hampshire way of life: fiscal responsibility and social tolerance.
A wasted vote? Only a vote for continuing the tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum two-party system is wasted. A Libertarian vote will send a message to our politicians, just as the growing independent movement is sending a message across the rest of New England.
In related news, see IPR’s continuing coverage of Independent Libertarian Joe Kennedy in the Massachusetts US Senate special election.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Gene Berkman // Dec 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Good column! Not just in New England, but across the country Americans are looking for an alternative to the tax & spend policies of the Democrats and the religious extremism and warmongering of the Republicans.
We need to build The Libertarian Party as an alternative attractive to the politically homeless.
2 Third Party Revolution // Dec 27, 2009 at 10:19 pm
No vote has ever, in my opinion, been wasted for any election.
3 Mike in PA // Dec 28, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Even if a third party were to split the vote of the “lesser” of the two evils, it would certainly bring both sides closer to arguing those ideals to try to appeal to those voters. Voting should be about trying to promote your principles, not some group of politicians. Voting for a third party is the only real way to get your principles addressed.
4 Don Lake .......... More Libs Lacking a Lib Perspective // Dec 28, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Third Party Revolution // Dec 27, 2009:
“No vote has ever, in my opinion, been wasted for any election.”
———– Even write ins for ‘Donald Duck’ ‘Mickey Mouse’ and ‘Goofey’ in 1972 ??????? The worse thing to do is to do nothing! ‘We’re mad as hell and we are not gonna take it any more!’ The least we can do is to leave a formal ‘paper’ trail!
5 Mik Robertson // Dec 28, 2009 at 3:24 pm
It is noted in our literature as ‘Tweedle D’ and ‘Tweedle R’
6 Clay Barham // Dec 28, 2009 at 9:42 pm
SELF INTEREST OR SELF-CENTERED
This is directed at those who admire and criticize Ayn Rand’s beliefs about people who stand on their own feet. Most who criticize Rand say she promoted selfishness, thereby greed, which is self-centered and anti-individual creativity, therefore, anti-Rand. Rand admired the creative individual, such as James Jerome Hill, on whom she was reputed to have based her character Dabney Taggart in Atlas Shrugged. If we look at Howard Roark’s summation to the jury, from Fountainhead, we do not see a self-centered individual destroying his work. Were he greedy, he would have simply accepted his payment. We see a self-interested, other- and outer-centered individual in love with his own dreams and creations, as one would love a spouse, child or family and refuse to allow them to be assaulted. Though love for anything spiritual may be missing, a great idea or vision also measures up to that which is spiritual, and that view is not inconsistent with Christianity.
7 paulie // Dec 28, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I’m not sure if this is Clay Barham
But there is a definite family resemblence
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