My Vote isn’t Mine
Posted by krosinsky on January 30, 2008
John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic primary today. And I am angry.
I’m not so angry because I wanted to vote for him, because I am most likely voting for Obama. What I am more angry about is the fact that other Americans are determining who I get to vote for before I get to vote.
Democrats in Iowa had many choices. They could have voted for Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Kucinich, Gravel, Biden, or Dodd. Now when I get to vote, I can only choose between Clinton, Obama and Gravel. How is this a democracy? It is outrageously unfair that I get fewer choices of who to pick for President just because I live in a different state.
It makes me livid to think that my choices for President are being whittled away because the candidates have performed badly in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina. What else gets to me is the fact that candidates are running out of money and can’t continue their bids because of the length of the campaigning season. Now I can only choose between two people that others have decided are the front runners and one other dude who will probably drop out soon too.
This is definitely not “one man, one vote.” Who wants to write letters to Congress with me?
Marge said
How do you suggest the system should work?
krosinsky said
I think we should have one set day for all states to have their primaries just as there is one day for the general election. I don’t know if this has been attempted in the past or why it isn’t the case right now…so if anyone out there knows, share your wisdom!
Ben said
Most likely, even if all states were holding their primaries at once, you’d have the same two choices. The candidates without Obama and Clinton’s fundraising power wouldn’t get into the race at all, because they wouldn’t be able to run the nationwide campaign that such a schedule would require. The current schedule actually favors the little guys, since they can focus on one or two early states to try to build momentum (and campaign contributions) to carry them on into the later primaries.
Also, the primary dates are set at the state level, with some input from the Democratic and Republican National Committees…
Marge said
Well it still kind of sucks. How do other countries do it? Or do you think the American system is the best (in terms of favoring the small guys)?
Can’t one small candidate raise awareness online? And save money that way? (Obviously I see the negatives with that, but can’t it be done anyway?) With so much video, and online power now, isn’t it possible?
Joanna said
I was going to vote for Edwards.
I’ve never really thought about it like that, but what the Ben guy said is probably true.
I may not even vote in our primary because with Super Tuesday coming first… the candidate might already be decided with so many delegates up for grabs.
Has Edwards endorsed anyone yet?
krosinsky said
Ben – good point. This is why we should have public campaign finance so that everyone is even. Also, do you happen to know why the primary is set at a state level but the general election isn’t? I feel like I’m missing something in that respect.
Heath….oh sorry…”Marge” – you would think that candidates without a lot of money could use online power to garner enough support, but as Ron Paul shows, it’s not enough. He is incredibly popular in online circles but you would never know it by looking at his performance. What’s more is that he isn’t even short on cash – he has raised nearly $30 million. Someone like Mike Gravel with under a million dollars raised wouldn’t have a chance.
I heard that Edwards isn’t going to endorse anyone until after Super Tuesday tomorrow…so we’ll see. And I doubt that we’ll know the nominee tomorrow as it is so close between Obama and Clinton. But really…who knows?
PS. Thanks for your comments! I like responses to what I write. Gotta have people help me sort out these brain knots I have.
Marge said
okay, well here’s another idea. i’m sure you won’t like it, but here it is:
everyone complains that votes on small independent candidates like Ralph Nader, etc.. are wasted as s/he will never win. so why not say he can then give away those votes if he doesn’t win to whichever candidate he likes – like the Democrat (the lesser evil). Of course the same would work with the other side. Well??