Don't blame me - I didn't vote

For the first time since I have been eligible to vote in a presidential election, I did not vote for president. After weeks of careful consideration, I chose not to vote for any of the candidates listed on the ballot (there were 4 to choose from) nor did I write-in a candidate.

A simple answer to the question of "Why not?" would be "There was no one I believed capable of holding the office of President of our country as defined by the Constitution." The longer answer includes the fact that I am disgusted with politics, especially on the federal level, and that my vote doesn't really make a difference. If you have doubts as to whether your vote truly counts, then read this.

"By not voting people can “signal” to others their disapproval of a system that allows one person (or group) to gain at the expense of another."

In a way, my not voting was a protest against the fact that I really had no choice. A vote for Obama is a vote for wealth-redistribution and an interventionist foreign policy. A vote for McCain is a vote for censorship and an interventionist foreign policy.

As for the two Libertarian Party candidates on the ballot, I don't believe that Bob Barr will follow the principles of the Libertarian Party platform based on his prior voting record. As for George Phillies, I know little about him but I no longer trust the Libertarian Party to produce honest candidates. Essentially, Bob Barr cost George Phillies my vote. Not that it matters...

I did however vote for state and local candidates. Ballot access is an important issue and a Libertarian candidate receiving 4% of the vote would allow them future access to the ballot without the unfair and time-consuming process of petitioning. I believe that change (the real kind, not the Obama brand) happens by educating people at the local level. I hope to lead by example and encourage others to pay attention to their representatives and hold them accountable. After all, this election isn't historic and isn't about Obama, but rather about taking responsibility for yourself and how you wish to be governed.