Vote Early - Vote Often

“If voting could actually change the system, voting would be illegal.
If not voting could actually change the system, not voting would be illegal.”
Robert Anton Wilson

I haven’t voted in years. I used to vote for Libertarians but I long ago decided it was not worth the trip to the polling station. I regard it as a complete waste of time, if one cares about fundamental change rather than just what taxpayer money will be given to which special interest this time around. I guess I just find it all something of a degrading fraud that I do not wish to endorse with my participation.

Of course, being Canadian, I cannot vote in American elections, but take interest in them as everyone who is interested in whether or not the planet might be vaporized next week does. Even if I were American though, I would not vote. Not normally. Truth is, I am not a big fan of “democracy”. Even if genuine democracy existed, which it never has and never will anywhere, I would not be much of a fan. Tyranny blessed by the majority (or plurality, in parliamentary democracies) is still tyranny.

Everyone is familiar with Winston Churchill’s famous line: “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” Less familiar is something else he said on the subject that is closer to my view: “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

Despite my aversion to wasting time excercising my franchise, in the upcoming US Presidential election I would vote, if I had that option. I would vote for Ron Paul. It would be a pretty simple decision, really, given that he is the only candidate who opposes big government and has opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, and the Patriot Act, and so on and so on. In short, he is the only candidate that is not a card-carrying member of what Antiwar.com would call “the War Party”.

In the event that Paul decided not to run or was struck by lightning or abducted by space aliens, I would not not be left without a supportable candidate. Oh no, not at all. I have another favorite who runs a close second to Ron Paul. That is: Mike Gravel.

I have not the slightest idea what Mr. Gravel’s politics are. Left wing, right wing, anarchist, monarchist - I haven’t a clue. What I do know about him is enough though. A man running for President of The United States has publicly proclaimed: “I am prepared to tell you Americans are getting fatter and dumber.”

Hail to the chief!