An Argument Against ‘Party Only Voting’ | Choosing The ‘Lesser Of Two Evils’ Isn’t Enough

One glorified argument raises its ugly head every election cycle. The “lesser of two evils” and why we should all vote against liberal democrats no matter who runs as the Republican. But ‘Party Only Voting' needs to come to an end.

I admit that I am sympathetic to the theory. I do usually find two ways to be productive in life:

1. Produce Good
2. Defeat Bad

Upon closer inspection however, politics tends to be more of a mire. It is not as black and white as Democrat vs Republican. I find the lesser of two evils argument to eventually lead to a scenario in which we fully despise both parties. We already have one of the most polarized political atmospheres possible. Nearly 99% of the Democrat Party is highly unfavorable (and that’s being nice) to a Constitutional Conservative. Likewise probably in the realm of 70% – 80% of current Republicans should also attract our consternation. So why are we expected to vote 100% Republican and pull that dreaded level that reads “All Republican” ?

An Argument Against “Party Only Voting”

Founding Father's Opinion on Party Voting

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.
~ John Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson

I find this quote from John Adams to ring particularly true today. We have just endured 8 years of Barack Obama. An 8 year period in which Obama supporters were incapable of understanding fact and reality. Obama supporters were die-hard and loyal. 100% positivity about Obama all the time.

I fear the same is beginning for Trump. We see it in the tariff debate where Trump supporters are encouraging Bernie Sanders’ trade policy which would end in less free trade and more economic distress. This has never been a conservative agenda item….until now. It apparently is taboo to ever criticize “one of your own.” I for one reject this theory and will argue for conservative principles and ideas no matter the leader of the country. I will not turn a blind eye simply because a Republican is in charge.

A difference in politics should never be permitted to enter into social intercourse, or to disturb its friendships, its charities or justice.
~ Thomas Jefferson To Henry Lee

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This quote by Thomas Jefferson is already in play. We all know those Facebook friends that we despise solely on the basis of their politics. We now have private companies waging into political theater further separating the citizenry and wedging us closer to absolute polarization.

Say No To The Party Lever

Here is a practical approach that we should all employ instead:

First, figure out the principles in which you believe and fully embrace them. Your principles will be your compass. Support candidates for office that represent your ideals. Oppose candidates that do not represent your principles.

Let me tell you a story.

During the beginning of the 2016 Republican Presidential Primaries, I really found four candidates to be acceptable. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio. As the campaign progressed, I quickly found myself endorsing Ted Cruz before the Iowa Caucus. My view on Trump was the biggest shift throughout the campaign. I went from finding him favorable to fearing what a Trump presidency would mean. At first he was super attractive due to his rhetoric on illegal immigration and the feckless leadership of Barack Obama. He quickly soured my conservative roots with the tariff talk, constant flip flopping, and concern about him identifying as a Democrat for decades.

As many did during the campaign against Clinton, I doubted Trump’s ability to win. He ran arguably one of the worst campaigns of recent memory. Luckily for him, his opponent was the despicable Hillary Clinton. Trump ended up winning the battle. He entered office as the most disliked President in modern American history.

My personal struggle was the classical lesser of two evils. Do I vote for Trump simply to make sure Clinton does not get into the White House? Or do I vote for conservative principles, even if that means a candidate with zero realistic shot of winning? I voted for Darrell Castle. I carried the same thinking down ballot and did not cast a vote for Senator Pat Toomey nor my incumbent Republican congressman.

What the hell gives right?

I decided I no longer want to be used as a pawn in this awful system. With only two major parties, “true outsiders” are at an enormous disadvantage. The Republican leadership usually handpicks their liberal Republican candidate to run against the liberal socialist Democrat. This cycle needs to be broken. This system will never be defeated if we embrace the “lesser of two evils” argument. We would theoretically continue to vote for big government Republicans. Where is the punishment for that? There is no incentive for the Republican party to change. We will only get more of the same.

I don’t disagree with an individual if they decide to believe in the lesser of two evils. They, however, are not battling big government Republicans. The idea that pulling the party lever is somehow patriotic or inherently conservative is delusional. I don’t foresee a major third party rising to restore small government principles anytime soon. So we either continue the gravy train for the lesser of two evils or we rise up and demand better. We should not support Socialist democrats nor liberal Republicans.

This is certainly a micro loss (Perhaps more Democrat victories). But it is a macro win (big government Republicans will become extinct).

Up Next: Trump Immigration Ban Was The Right Call – Now It Needs To Go Further

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