You're Just Wasting Your Vote

Interesting column from Shadowproof about arguments that you're wasting your vote by not voting for the two mainstream candidates. The writer looks at claims that Ralph Nader was responsible for the Iraq War because he "stole votes" from Algore. Not so much an argument for voting third party, but scolding those that come up with excuses for not breaking out of the mainstream:

"Essentially, Roberts argues just because there is a cancer rotting at the center of American politics does not change the fact that the cancer will still be there tomorrow. Do not do anything to challenge or remove the cancer. Citizens will never be able to cure the cancer. Liberate yourself, and learn to live with the cancer."

I've heard these arguments since I became a third party voter, but not as intense and ongoing as I have recently, most likely because partisans are so embarrassed by their chosen candidates this year. 

Here's something from today's Daily Kos where a Clinton partisan tries to convince others not to vote for Jill Stein, going so far as to say Stein's policy proposals are "blatantly insane". So he's telling Stein supporters his choice, Clinton, doesn't agree with those policies yet they're supposed to vote for Clinton? Strange way of thinking.