The Fallacy of the Third-Party Vote
While away from blogging and engaged in film shooting with other like-minded Christian filmmakers, I overheard two people discussing politics. One said to the other the common line found among the so-called far-right elements of the Christian conservative base, that being: “We cannot vote for the lesser of two evils.” I thought so myself at one time.
I don’t anymore.
The immediate thought that beat a quick path through my head at that moment was this: “Well, then you would be voting for the lesser of three evils.”
Can we justify that any more than we can justify voting for the lesser of two? In fact, if voting for the lesser of three evils means that the greater of two evils wins, are we actually sinning greater than if we voted for the lesser of two?
Or is sin even to be measured in degrees?
The fact is that no one man is going to completely line up with the views of any other one man on every single issue. Period. End of story. Men are not mass-produced robots and God is not Henry Ford. Men are individuals. Every individual has his own set of opinions and beliefs that, I guarantee you, are not completely identical to any other man’s beliefs on the planet. Granted, some are closer to the truth than others, but no mere mortal man knows completely all truth. To follow the logic of the lesser of evils, than every time we vote, we commit a sin.
It is not a sin to vote. When we vote, we are not choosing mini-gods. We are choosing people to represent us. These are not perfect. But they are to be the best available option.
Some things we must compromise on. Some things we cannot compromise on, at least not very much. I happen to believe that abortion is one. But does that mean that we merely find the most pro-life candidate around and vote for him, regardless of his other policies? Ron Paul is apparently, so I’ve been told, pro-life.
In reality, in a nation with a two-party dominated government, we cannot afford to not vote for the lesser of two evils. Anything lesser, or greater, is signing America’s death warrant.
Hey WoW – glad you’re back! Excellent points re. voting. We are constantly faced with making the best of bad situations. It is a life skill we all need.
Neil
June 14, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Gary North wrote an excellent article about this, it’s on Lewrockwell.com.
Ron Paul, as an OB-GYN, and a Christian, is staunchly pro-life. I am not; although I find abortion highly, highly distasteful, I do not feel government has any business telling anyone what to do “with their own bodies.” It frightens me that the primary justification for pro-life arguments are “the state has an interest in potential life being born” i.e., the State has an interest that vests somewhere around 20 weeks, give or take, in producing taxpayers.
At any rate, he is a states-rights kind of guy, and believes the Feds should not be used to create a ban on abortion. This is probably the best, most Christian policy to be followed. Because giving the Feds MORE power over the states has not created a more loving, caring, peaceful society; quite the opposite, in fact. It’s time we recognized that fact. Government is like the One Ring from Tolkien – it’s impossible to “use it for good,” one can only contain it, hide it in some lava where no one can find it and abuse it.
But, after all, who are you going to trust? Politicians, who lie constantly, change their stances with the winds, and listen to what some polling think-tank tells them we peasants believe in and want to hear? Or someone who’s never changed their stance, is not a “politician,” and believes we must change things for the better?
I never considered myself a Christian until recently, but I find more and more that Christ said some pretty profound and important things. It is a pity that so much distortion has happened since then.
bret
June 14, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I suppose I should note that I heard Ron Paul speak in 2002 and have been a staunch advocate since that time.
bret
June 14, 2007 at 5:00 pm
This is a fascinating topic for me since I recently acquired the “right” and “privilege” to vote. Yesterday, as a matter of fact.
Voting for the lesser of two evils is a real shame. My grandpa told me recently that you don’t vote for anyone anymore. You vote against the other guy. And the candidates who are likely to be nominated are looking pretty bad right now. If the lesser of two evils is indiscernible, then I don’t believe it is a sin not to vote. I’m not saying I won’t, but I am not excited about it.
Bret: Government is dangerous, you’re right. It is not to be trusted which is why the Founding Fathers design the Constitution to restrain government. George Washington said: “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” Yeah, that does kind of sound like Tolkien. But government is necessary. Further, it was established by God.
I am glad you have found Christ. I pray that you will continue to read and study His true words. Christ has been so often misrepresented by His followers. That is why we must look to His example and no other.
Matt
June 17, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Hi t,
Good post. Glad you’re back.
the Grit
the Grit
June 18, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Matt, I’m not excited about it either. But it’s not necessarily any better to vote for the third party candidate, even without the factor of aiding the worse of whatever number of evils.
thelonedrifter
June 19, 2007 at 3:55 pm
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