Should the GOP swing to the Center?

[MrJim]

The problem I'm having is this--

The Republican Party will almost always let you down. That's true whether it's in the majority or in the minority as it now is.

But the possibilities of a third party achieving anything at the ballot box are slim.

So what to do? Vote third party and just feel better about your integrity...or continue to support a party, for practical reasons, which has some good people in it although never enough of them to carry the day?

...or there's always abstinence...rest in God's sovereignity over the rulers and just work from there..

 

[Albion]

...or there's always abstinence...rest in God's sovereignity over the rulers and just work from there..

I understand, but deep down inside I still feel that God wants us to take a hand in making things better. He will have the last word, of course, but I feel that it's wasteful or lazy to do nothing but sit on the sidelines. In other areas of life, each one of us has made a difference when we've waded in and rolled up our sleeves, and I at least tend to feel that way about civic affairs. It's just a matter of where doing it would make the most sense.

 

[Albion]

Personally, I split the difference: I vote for the "lesser evil" when it can win. When it can't, I vote Libertarian. An example: I voted for Dino Rossi (R) for Governor of Washington because he had a good shot at winning. But I voted for Bob Barr (L) for President because McCain had no realistic chance at carrying the state. Obama wins the electoral votes no matter what, but I feel better about my vote. In that case, there's no significant downside to going with principle. Of course that'll only work if you have a pretty good feel for your state's politics. I do, having been active in WA politics for over 30 years now.

I appreciate that advice and it runs true to what I've often done. However, my dilemma doesn't deal so much with how to vote, but with how to be politically active. I'm interested in doing more than showing up at the polls. Each party, major or minor, does have some drawbacks and I guess it's just a matter of weighing the various pros and cons of each of them. The GOP is most likely to put people into office, but the Libertarians are more principled, even though I can't sympathize with the Anarchists who make up part of the membership.

 

[MrJim]

I understand, but deep down inside I still feel that God wants us to take a hand in making things better. He will have the last word, of course, but I feel that it's wasteful or lazy to do nothing but sit on the sidelines. In other areas of life, each one of us has made a difference when we've waded in and rolled up our sleeves, and I at least tend to feel that way about civic affairs. It's just a matter of where doing it would make the most sense.

Then it sounds like if "feeling" is so important then the third party option, feeling better about integrity, is the way to go.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I appreciate that advice and it runs true to what I've often done. However, my dilemma doesn't deal so much with how to vote, but with how to be politically active. I'm interested in doing more than showing up at the polls. Each party, major or minor, does have some drawbacks and I guess it's just a matter of weighing the various pros and cons of each of them. The GOP is most likely to put people into office, but the Libertarians are more principled, even though I can't sympathize with the Anarchists who make up part of the membership.

Right. I've put in my share of volunteer time with both the GOP and the LP, and also with non-partisan advocacy groups. Second Amendment rights is my pet issue, but I've worked on others too.

I was an anarchist myself once, a radical anarcho-capitalist totally into Rand and Rothbard. Now I'm right on the edge between conservative libertarian and libertarian conservative. Being a Christ-follower is part of the change I'm sure, but the larger part is probably just growing out of the insufferable self-righteousness and know-it-all syndrome of youth. Maybe not everyone gets that, but I had it bad when I was 19.