Reply #18: The problem with democracies is that they are 'messy' and do not serve 'purists'...

[Blackhatjack]

'Ideologically committed voters' are almost always disappointed by the outcomes that democracies produce.

Think of it in terms of how our legislative process works. Nothing gets through Congress and signed by the President to become law which does not go through multiple iterations which result from compromises reached between those who represent different interest groups.

If you commit to casting an 'ideologically purist vote' in a Presidential Election, it is similar to saying 'I won't accept anything less than the best.' That is an admirable position when it comes to ideological loyalty, but a terrible position when it comes to electing the best possible candidate.

Voting for a candidate who cannot win, who you 'know' cannot win, is much different from voting for a candidate who you believe will win. In the former, you have contributed 'knowingly' to electing a lesser candidate to the position who shares fewer beliefs with you than other available candidates. In the latter, you might be mistaken about the candidate's viability but you are not 'knowingly' promoting the election of the lesser candidate.

Often times democracies do not allow the election of 'the best candidate' in multiple candidate elections because of the competing interest groups who vote in an election. However, as a participant in the democratic process we can always be realistic and promote the election of the best candidate possible.

I think you now 'know' Kucinich cannot win, and are struggling to decide where your precious vote will produce the 'best' results for all of us.

In the end, voting 'ideologically' rather than 'realistically' is not rewarded by democratic election systems. But we are free to choose what we individually determine is the best use of our precious votes.

If Ralph Nader voters had voted 'realistically' rather than 'ideologically' there is every reason to believe we might have avoided the entire Bush disaster.

Something to think about.