Guest Post by Eric Peters
It’s said that if elections mattered, they wouldn’t allow them. There’s truth in this. Even Stalin allowed elections. Because, of course, he knew who the winner would be before the first vote was cast. But going through the motions (of pretending the outcome was in doubt) was necessary, to give Stalin putative legitimacy. After all, he’d been elected as leader.
The people have spoken!
Our elections are not dissimilar. The main difference being the winner will be a system rather than a particular man. But it does matter which man becomes the front man for this system, at least in terms of tactics.
In the sense that buying more time matters.
Time being invaluable. The more you have, the more (and better) your options. Time is literally life. I like to think of voting in this context. It is like being on a foundering ship that’s going to sink. This is understood. The ship is going down. But whatever can be done to slow the inevitable plunge buys precious time, enabling more people to get safely into the lifeboats.
This, it seems to me, is worth the effort.
Just the same – or at least, similarly – with regard to voting in the coming elections. Yes, of course – it would be nice for us live-and-let-live people who want nothing from the system except for it to leave us (and others) alone to have the option to vote for that. Even better if it were not possible for others to vote to not leave others alone.
But that’s not what’s going to be on the ballot, unfortunately.
It’s immensely frustrating to be handed this fait accompli. To be made to feel complicit by participating in what amounts to an endorsement of the system. And there is truth in this, too.
There is also truth in the argument that if enough of us refused to participate, the system could no longer claim “the people” had endorsed it and – thereby – would lose its legitimacy. (This is why in some countries, voting is mandatory.)
The problem, of course, getting enough people to not-vote. This never seems to happen. Thus, while it’s a laudable goal, it makes voting a matter of self-interest, even survival. To counter the vote of the person who does not want to leave other people alone.
To buy more time.
Another way to think of voting is to think of it as being put in the position of having to fight and the only weapon available is the gun someone left on the field. It goes without saying that most people would pick up the gun and use it to defend themselves. It does not mean they want to fight. It foes not mean they wanted the war. It means doing what they can to survive the war.
Is this immoral?
I don’t consider that it is. I also do not think it is incongruous with not wanting the war and preferring not to fight at all. That is the ideal. The thing libertarians and anarchysts – whose foundational moral principle is leaving others alone – would “vote” for if that were on the ballot.
It is what they “vote” for in the course of their own lives, by dealing with others in the same way they’d like to be dealt with by others. Peaceful, voluntary interactions. If we disagree, we agree to disagree – and leave it at that. We do not resort to force to compel “agreement,” which of course it isn’t because it is obedience to force majeure.
Voting, of course, amounts to the same. So we have an apparent paradox. But is it an actual one?
Can a person – who is under duress – be regarded as immoral for doing what is possible to defend himself from force majeure by making use of it, via the ballot box?
I don’t see that as reasonable. Nor incongruent.
What I mean by this is I see no necessary contradiction in advocating for a principle – leave others alone – while at the same time doing what can be done toward that end. Is it not possible for a human being to do two things at once?
Of course it is.
The Orange Man is credited with doing just that – i.e., playing 3D chess. Whether he is or isn’t isn’t the point. The point is that we can play that game, too.
The winner of the coming election will, inevitably, be the system. But if we can limit our losses – if we can buy more time – that might be something worth voting for, regardless.
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When given the opportunity, I will ALWAYS exercise my right to vote. Penalizing election-FRAUD should be a front-burner issue for Americans, and eliminating voting without picture I.D,s, signature validations, etc. Deployed military should be the only exceptions.
“The truth is, one who seeks to achieve freedom by petitioning those in power to give it to him has already failed, regardless of the response.
To beg for the blessing of “authority” is to accept that the choice is the master’s alone to make, which means that the person is already, by definition, a slave.” ― Larken Rose
Larken has pointed to many uncomfortable truths to me over the years regarding the state and my role in it.
it would take an extraordinary person to return me to the ballot box. A vintage 2008 Ron Paul would be the only thing I can imagine.
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
Vote for entertainment…Vote Trump!!
I’m not a big fan of DJT, and I’m probably not going to vote for Mr. Warp Speed. Buuuuuuut, if he does actually beat the cheat, watching the meltdown on CNN/MSDNC etcetera will be glorious.
Warren–If you don’t vote, you should stay quiet. You have made forfeit you own right to comment on whatever the out come may be.
Your attitude is exactly what permits evil to flourish.
You would be part of those who do nothing, thus allowing evil to prevail.
SamFox
That’s ridiculous. If you re-elect the government, you have to keep your mouth shut. Your vote matters not a whit, and government never changes, except in degree of damage. You are a stark fool.
“In truth, the belief in “government” is a religion, made up of a set of dogmatic teachings, irrational doctrines which fly in the face of both evidence and logic, and which are methodically memorized and repeated by the faithful. Like other religions, the gospel of “government” describes a superhuman, supernatural entity, above mere mortals, which issues commandments to the peasantry, for whom unquestioning obedience is a moral imperative.” ― Larken Rose, The Most Dangerous Superstition
The degree of damage elected is a huge deal.
I’d rather die a slower more comfortable death.
Besides he is the last trump!
The timetable has already been foretold.
When God’s word says 1993 years from the crucifixion of Jesus He means it.
Boy are you stupid!
Fine, I’m voting for Hitler.
I’m voting for chaos.
Thus I’m voting for DJT.
Let the mayhem begin.
There is no way out of this national suicide except by violence.
Let’s get going. I’m getting old and my fitness and aim while still quite good, isn’t improving.
CA, I’m with you. The only reason they’ve selected DJT to run and win again is because it is the very most divisive thing they can imagine. It’s like Trump Derangement Syndrome turned into an unexpectedly real and pleasantly intended consequence of all their efforts. It became much bigger than they ever planned. Can’t let a good opportunity go to waste ya know.
If Trump wins, half the country goes off the rails with their usual burning of the cities and all that will entail. If he is cheated again (or killed), the other half goes with some mixture of Irish democracy, acquiescence, or going Galt. It is doubtful the tree of liberty will be sufficiently refreshed with patriot blood to cause a resurgence of freedom.
Either way TPTB are happy, and it will be every citizen for themselves. But stay fit and lets get it over with. There are worse things than dying.
Just as good a vote as for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, none of the above or Biden.
Let me ask you a serious question. In light of current circumstances of the world today, was Hitler wrong?
When you get to Hell you can ask him yourself I suppose.
He wasn’t wrong. He just wasn’t right enough.
You are retarded.
Your attitude to allow others to frame the issue for you, is exactly what permits evil to flourish.
Always remember… when you vote for the lesser of two evils, you’re still voting for evil.
That’s intelligent. When we each find our own version of perfect we will vote for it.
By not voting we are only guaranteeing the worst criminal will win.
…which is the fucking result your kind has been giving us for generations. No thank you. Hard pass.
And you believe the winner will really be in charge right?
Yeah, let’s go vote! Then when they stop the show because of a leaky toilet, and send the observers home, the night crew can pull the boxes out from under the tables and count the uncreased ballots with perfectly filled in ovals for the dementia patient who never left his basement. Sounds great!
Anon–So whatcha gonna do about it? Bend over & Take it? Or at least TRY…
SamFox
Retard
Why give credibility to a farce of a system? Why?
You have a better idea?
The better idea is not to make a fool of oneself. Save one’s dignity by not participating in what is essentially a show for the human cattle. No, your vote won’t make a difference, and it won’t ‘cancel’ any other vote. The percentage of ‘common people’ (as opposite to the elite) who are aware of how the game is played is so small, they truly do not matter.
Another better idea is to vote with one’s feet in order to survive in this crazy world. Voting with one’s feet is what actually does work to improve one’s life.
I’m thinking Jesus has a special crown for those who observe your suggestion.
You’re merely pretending to be changing your world by voting. You have no idea, whereas the other fellow has an idea: rejection of the state. Your vote means nothing.
Voting only shows how stupid you are.
Don’t be niggercattle.
STOP children. What’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down.
Because the alternative is perceived to be death? How’s that for an educated guess?
Isn’t it interesting how they make you complicit in the outcome just by the way every election is framed? You can only vote for one of the candidates they list. (Seriously, does anyone think even the option of a “write-in” makes any difference?)
I would like to see what would happen if we had a real choice: put the names on the ballot, but there had to be an option for “none of these candidates” – which, if it gets the most votes, would result in a followup election a month later where none of the candidates may be anyone who ran, or was even in a primary for the election. Continue eliminating candidates as long as “none of these or any previous candidates” continues to win. [Maybe after an actual human wins, these candidates may enter the election again in the next cycle as candidates. I don’t know.]
Would it make a difference? Maybe for a few elections, until “they” learn to game this system as well. But in the meantime, people would have an actual choice for a change, not a preselected list of known psychopaths, and we might even find out that we don’t need the position to be filled for the country (state, county, city, school district) to function perfectly well.
That would not work either because the entire world is owned by the same psychos.
There should be some sort of recall or no confidence mechanism too.
Zhou Bai Din and the Communist Democrat Party versus The Father of Big Beautiful Vaxxines and Jared Kushner?
God help us.
WIth loathing and disgust Auntie will be compelled to vote against the Communist Democrats rather than against President Lock-Fucking-Down the USSA. Perhaps only a delay of four years (or no delay as the retards start WWIII immediately anyway) would help more people get prepared for the mythic shit-firestorm that surely approaches and soon.
(Silly Auntie, Dom1ny0n’s Got This TM.)
Auntie,
you do realize that a big brain, logic and reason are very sexy , right? Not my job to change anyone’s mind, but I refuse to lend legitimacy to an obviously criminal organisation.
Hugs and Peace, L.
Believing in voting is like believing the news, moon landing, sandy hook or the holocaust.
If I can throw a monkey wrench in their machine, why not? If millions do, maybe it’ll stop working.
And that wrench would be non-voting: rejection of their system, which your vote changes not at all.
Indeed. EVERY vote strengthens the corrupt system. By NOT voting, we would force them to stand naked before the world and ADMIT exactly who and what they are.
If they STILL want to vote for those cocksuckers after that? Well, good on ’em and bless their little hearts!
The analogy of the gun left on the battlefield is pretty good.
The reality is, when to vote, you ARE LITERALLY PUTTING A GUN IN A MAN’S HANDS, and telling him: “go get me some justice. Get me some protection. Use violence on my behalf, when the situation demands it.”
Do you trust the man in whose hands you are placing the gun? No? Then don’t give it to him.
…or don’t cry when you get shot by it.
I stand by what I posted below a little earlier.
“All for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.”
OK. Out vote system has been hijacked. No doubt!!
That started decades ago. Those that slowly stole into positions of power over the decades have become, in part, what we call the deep state. The regular citizen back in the day only had a few news outlets. These were slowly propagandized by manipulating the news and the trust of those who believed in and were loyal to the USA. Back then few people could research the news. Plus the news back then was mostly honest. They were just diluting a little here and there over time.
Research now is possible.
All the early infiltration slowly led up to the mess we have now. It’s a HUGE pile of…err bullstuff.
Now that we can define the problem, let’s all just sit back, let the fascist demoncrats have the USA because the game is rigged. That’s seems to be the ‘down vote’ mantra.
Some of us don’t really want an all controlling CCP style big bro government. Our solution, now that the problem is highlighted, is to take our nation back. We do have a chance . We all have to vote. Those that can need to run for office on local, county, state & national levels.
Either that or learn Mandarin.
Too many don’t have the stones. They will continue to down vote their own futures.
Stand up, resist & fight back. OR bend over…Overall, those are the only real choices we all have.
SamFox
“All for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.”
Yes, and by voting you are doing something! 😂 🤣 You know, like in ‘something must be done’…
And otherwise I count four false dichotomies in your post.
If you’re unable to think outside the box, you won’t get anywhere.
He’s not inside the box, bro. He IS the fuckin’ box! He’s trying to get you to climb on in!
You err because your unexpressed assumption is that not voting is not doing something. As they say in the Mysterious East, even no answer is an answer.
I have voted in every national election and most state and local elections for 55 years. And yet we are infinitely more oppressed now than we were when I first pulled that lever. So, subjectively, my vote has meant nothing, nada, in the process of improving human freedom. This is why I am done with it in its entirety.
Beyond that, the system is so rigged, my vote is a validation of the fraud that our system has become. Voting for the lesser of two evils who both have been handpicked by others says I believe in the System, I trust the System to work. I don’t. So why am I participating in its charade?
We are at the Patrick Henry Moment right now. There were still those who wanted to talk, to negotiate, to petition, to plead for justice from King George. Patrick Henry said, no, enough is enough. We have done that and it has been ignored. I would go so far as to say the treatment those early colonialists received from George on his throne was more measured and respectful than the outrages we have been subject to for many years.
There comes a time to recognize you have done enough. As has been said, returning good for evil can be as wrong as returning evil for good. That is where we are. Voting isn’t “buying time” to perhaps create conditions for a better outcome. Voting is playing along on the timetable of those who will snap your neck like a twig the moment they have that opportunity totally unchallenged.
It is time to approach this differently. We have had the ballot box and the soap box taken away from us. It is time to throw a wrench in the works, as individuals, quietly, effectively, with purpose. Work with no one, talk to no one about what you plan, and resist boasting in any way if you succeed in your work. There are tens of millions who are sickened by the spectacle of what America has become. Just a fraction working in direct action would paralyze the ability of this criminal syndicate to continue as they have. Voting has not been able to achieve this, and the chance of it accomplishing anything significant in turning back the tide of tyranny diminishes with each passing hour.
Grow a pair, get real, get quiet, get to work.
Well stated and 100% agree.
The news back then was the same shit.
This article somehow resonates with a post by Martin Armstrong today. The bottom line is we cannot cancel the event itself, but maybe alter ( diminish) the amplitude. The topic is the WWIII, but maybe it also applies to the election? A question is all I have.
I’m certainty not against voting. We all vote on stuff every day (even if it is in our own minds), and on the local level, I think it is a really big mistake to not vote, where real change is possible. I also think the not vote has been a meme / mind virus of our enemies.
As Sun Tzu said of course, there is no better victory then to defeat your enemy before they ever even start to fight.
I’ve made many of the same arguments in the past as Eric, but last prez cycle was the first time in 40 years I didn’t vote in them. I simply could not vote for Trump, and the Gaza issue has only reinforced that position.
I certainly won’t blame those who do vote for him, as the entertainment value will, at least, appeal to my more perverse nature, and it could certainly be a possible catalyst for acceleration. As someone else said, and I have said and feared for decades now, so as before I get to old to be much use.
As far as the NAP goes, I ask what you would do if you invited somebody into your home, and they refused to leave? If you say that you would physically throw them out, congrats, you just violated the NAP. Property rights is the willingness of government (1 man or more) to enforce those rights, by violence against those who would violate them. Large governments are what gives the ability (notice I didn’t say right) to “own” more property than what we can secure within our means our self or tribe).
As such, who benefits most by large government, and who should pay the brunt of it? Hint, it isn’t who does pay it, mostly historically.
The NAP IS what makes, among other things, the Libertarian creed, a socialist or communist one, if practiced as such. Not that those who push it at the top have any desire to follow it, they just want to upset the chess board, so they can rule the world, and they have already a pretty good start (another hint, and that Sun Tzu thing again).
Feel free to internalize and disseminate. Nobody though has ever successfully challenged it, even some of the best. Welcome to try, though I have noticed that some of my other observations have been internalized among the more logical and honest (6 billion governments for instants, meaning every man a government, and I even heard Corbet quote the “most people live in anarchy, most their lives” a while back).
Voting(when conducted honestly) is the exercise of JUDGMENT. Do YOU trust the judgment of the average American shit head? Because THAT is what’s been driving this country for 100 years or better!
Save yourselves! STOP voting!
Or, I could ask you if all the shitheads should be allowed to run society without any input from those who are not.
What’s stopping them? Their own system!
I apologize if that sounded cryptic. What I meant is 1.) they currently ARE allowed, and 2.) We’re NOT stopping them. The truly intelligent have had their hands tied to their balls for that 100 years. That sort of reinforcement bears fruit. The system that programmed EVERYONE is inhibiting you from doing what in your heart you know is right.
In Star Wars terms, every politician on the planet ought to be “Special Order 66 ‘ed”. It could be better in an hour.
The whole point was if you don’t engage them, in this case by voting, you give the shitheads carte blanche to do to you or rule as they will. So nothing is stopping them, voting or otherwise. The perfect example of being good slaves.
Even if you assume voting is useless, quantity has a quality all its own, and sends a clear message. It also makes them work for it, which means they can’t help but be seen, and further erodes any pretense of legitimacy, so that everyone sees it, whether they want to or not.
And yes, your first reply was cryptic, even after edit.
The average american shit head’s vote makes absolutely no difference. It just gives them the illusion of freedom of choice.
Obviously evil has taken over our system and is using it their advantage. They are allowed to lie without repercussions, act without consequences, and steal with a smile on their face. The mainstream talking heads say climate change is bad. They say covid is bad. They say Putin is bad. They say Jan 6 was worse than pearl harbor. They also say to vote. All of them stress to vote. They want us to be a part of their system, and to prop it up like it is working, when in actuality that evil is controlling the system. I will not participate in their rigged system.
Welcome to the fraternity of the sane!
The conclusion reached by the author reminds me of a story my father told me when I was very young.
There was once a monkey who spent much time observing humans from the edges of the jungle. He found much to admire in them and wanted to be like them. He thought that IF he could lose his tail, he might be accepted by them, so one night he sneaked into camp and stole a cooking knife from the mess hall. Back to the jungle went the little monkey, who proceeded to cut off his own tail in one inch pieces. He thought it would hurt less if he cut it off a little at a time.
Are we learning yet?
Have you laid off the bottle again? It looks good on you.
Actually, I have…in large part. Drinking opens demonic doors better left closed. I don’t have that problem with pot. I still have my problems, but who doesn’t, right? And I’m managing the ones I have pretty well so far. Thanks.
I agree about drinking, been there done that. Now pass the reefer, unless it is bong or bowl, than better yet.