Who is really wasting their vote?

In an election year where the biggest catch phrase involves the notorious "wasted vote," I've got a few questions to ask. What is this wasted vote that everyone warns me about? "Don't waste your vote by voting for him! He's got no chance!" Waste my vote? What is a wasted vote? Is voting for someone you believe in a wasted vote? Not in my book.

Manish Raiji Nothing Catchy

In my book, the only wasted vote is a misinformed one. The power of a democracy lies in the people's ability to vote for a person who best represents their views. This isn't a high school student government election; it's not about voting for the person who throws the best parties and smokes the best weed. It's about voting for the person who you think is best suited for leading this nation. And unfortunately, too many people don't understand that and get shepherded into voting for a "winner." If you don't support someone, don't vote for him because of the donkey or elephant sewed into his boxers, because that's a surefire way of making sure that your voice is silenced.

So do this nation a favor, and don't vote if you're out to vote for a person whose plans you don't understand, whose ideologies you don't agree with, and whose integrity is about as strong as the paper this is written on. Do us all a favor and stay as far away from a voting booth as you can, because not voting at all is better than voting uninformed. There are more than two candidates running for office this year, and if Bush or Gore don't appeal to you, don't settle simply because you fear you have no choices. There are six candidates on the ballot in Michigan, and voting for any one of them without knowing what the others stand for is really the only wasted vote.

Do you feel that the government is too intrusive? Do you feel that the budget surplus is a shining example of government theft? Should the government have no place in the abortion debates? Do you believe in international free-markets, regardless of human rights violations? Are you entirely opposed to affirmative action? Should the education system be privatized? Is the war on drugs intrusive and wasteful? If you say yes to these issues, than look into Harry Browne, and avoid Gore and Bush like the plague, because they will not represent your needs.

Do you support gun control? School vouchers? Funneling more money into social security? Do you think that increased government control over the airwaves should limit the amount of sex and violence on television? Are you opposed to genetically altered foods? Opposed to nuclear power because of the environmental damage done by nuclear waste? Do you support increased sexual education for children? John Hagelin does, and if you agree, than maybe he's the candidate you ought to showing your support for.

Do you disagree with sending aid to foreign nations? Do you believe in closed American borders? Should Christianity be the driving force behind our government? Do you support concealed weapons? Is abortion homicide - and should doctors who perform abortions be prosecuted for such crimes? Should welfare be entirely disposed of? If you answered yes, than why vote for Bush or Gore when you can vote for a person who supports what you support? Why not vote for Howard Phillips, who believes in all of the above?

Do you feel that corporate sponsorship of the electoral process has destroyed the democratic system? Should the government be more concerned about the unequal distribution of wealth in this nation? Do you support trigger locks and background checks on gun purchases? Should the budget surplus be spent on improving the urban school system and governmental infrastructure? Do you support equal gay rights? Should investments be made to shift our dependence on environmentally damaging fossil fuels towards more sustainable energy such as hemp? If so, than Bush and Gore are not going to speak for you if elected, but Ralph Nader will.

These are your four other choices. These are the four candidates that you can "waste your vote" on. Remember this when election time rolls around; once every four years, we are given the opportunity to vote for the person who will become arguably the most powerful person in this world. You have two weeks. If you've never heard of these four people before, you have two weeks to catch up, and figure out who truly represents your beliefs. If you're fed up with the way this government works, then don't vote for either of the two parties responsible for making this government the way it is. Are you going to walk into the voting booth in two weeks and vote for the candidate that you admire, or are you going to walk in and waste your vote on a person you don't believe in?

- Manish Raiji can be reached

via e-mail at mraiji@umich.edu.