To those who would withhold their vote in November. [View all]

[JohnnyRingo]

Do it.

Just do it and spare us the hand wringing drama that accompanies such posts. Stop pretending that you hold an oh-so-precious vote hostage and will pull the trigger if your demands aren't met. I don't care, kill it.

I used to get upset with posts that expressed an inclination to stay home this fall or write in some protest vote if Sanders isn't the candidate, but then it occurred to me: We didn't need you to re-elect President Obama in 2012 and we won't need you this time either.

Since Obama and Clinton are cut from the same political DNA I know those idealistic minded activists looking for a revolution couldn't have cast a vote for domestic surveillance, constant war, and a lopsided economic system. Of course we got the good with the bad in gender equality, bail out of the auto industry, and LGBT rights, but the intolerance of those who would discard their vote this year surely couldn't have seen past that.

Even if one swears to Alinsky that they voted for Obama but will just sit out this election or write in Mickey Mouse or Bernie Sanders, it still doesn't matter. First of all your write-in protest won't count. It'll go straight to the trash bin. There will be no reports on how many voters opted for someone not on the ballot and it's not like you voted for Cruz. Secondly, you're such a small percentage as to be insignificant, probably much less than 1%. Though your threats get recs all the way to the Greatest Threads page very few here will follow through with you this fall. Everyone wants to participate and most want to celebrate with the winners. There's a reason Cafe Press doesn't make a bumper sticker that says: "Don't Blame Me, I Don't Vote".

I've heard your high handed excuses about your uncompromising ideals and and how your conscience won't allow you to vote for Ms Clinton if she's on the ballot in November, but your fragile conscience and ego that hang by a shimmering gossamer thread isn't worth two shits and a cup of coffee to the rest of us who will be fighting to avoid four years of a Republican seated in the White House.

Just don't let me see you at the victory party.