prune picker

This is the blog of a prune picker. (Native born Californian) Retired oilfield. I am an old man. I blog a lot about my body and getting old. As I approach death life gets more interesting. More interesting is not good. I still drive. I attend sports, music, and civic events. I am writing my memoirs. I attend swim class three times a week. Some of my blogs might be interesting. A lot of my blogs are silly and trivial. None are very long.

Monday, October 17, 2016

My vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for President is not a wasted vote!

Much of my thinking has been influenced by a recent paper by Stephen Weese, "How Not To Waste Your Vote: A Mathematical Analysis" A very good read. I recommend the paper.

A wasted vote can be defined as a vote that has no effect on the final result of the election. The following two types of votes are therefore wasted votes. 1) votes for the winner in excess of the number required to win and 2) votes cast for the losing candidate. You can count on your vote for a major party to be in one of the two types of wasted votes. One mathematical study indicates that 3 million votes for Clinton in California will be wasted this election. (Because she has such a large lead.)

In a sense your vote is really an expression of your opinion. A vote for the major parties implies that you are happy with their performance. A vote for a third party implies just the opposite. I will vote for a third party. This year the Libertarian party.

A vote for a third party is noticed (by the major parties) and is often instrumental in making a change. (the Socialist Party Platform of 1915 has been completely adopted by the Democrats and the Republicans) I believe that we need a third party. If Gary Johnson receives more that 5 per cent of the votes in this election, the Libertarian Party will be eligible for government money for election expense like the two major parties. Many millions of dollars. This would help make a third party viable.

So a vote for Gary is not wasted.

Some people believe that our system leads to a two party system. Almost all of our national elections are decided by a method where we vote for the lessor of two evils. Most votes are negative. Or against someone.

Come vote with me for Gary. Help develop a three party system.


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