Posted on 03/17/2002 1:36:37 PM PST by Sabertooth
For the past 10 years, I voted Republican, rain or shine. I was a single-issue voter.
My only concern was that the candidate be a Republican.
Why?
Because I don't like what the Democrat Party has done to America.
This year, another issue arises that concerns me greatly so much so, that I might not be voting Republican this November. I'll maintain my GOP registration, but my vote is suddenly in play, where it hadn't been for 10 years.
That issue is: Illegal Immigration, and Federal Amnesties for Illegals.
Some agree, and some don't that's fine. In any event, I've been active and vehement on the Illegal threads, to the displeasure of not a few. I've been called a few names, and that's to be expected (goes with being a Republican, no?) Among them are "racist," "xenophobe," "libertarian," "Buchananite," "knee-jerk," etc And
"Single-issue voter."
As though that's somehow damning. I was a single-issue voter beore, but now it's just a different issue. What bothers some is that it's a different single issue than theirs. Further, I don't really understand those who use this term in the pejorative Is there no issue, position, or policy on which the GOP could lose your vote? Is there no circumstance under which you would part ways?
Your right to vote is your currency in the Political Economy. If your support is never in doubt, what is the incentive of politicians to listen to you? Do you continue to patronize restaurants with good food and bad service? Or do you let your wallet do the talking?
If so, then why should politics be any different?
How do you feel when arrogant party functionaries mock you, asking "Do you want Hillary?" or "You gonna vote Democrat?" or some other such demagoguery? Are we nothing but pawns?
Or do moments arise when notice must be loudly given to our "leaders," who serve at our pleasure, that there will be an electoral price paid for failing to heed the will of the American People?
Nope.
I'll admit that being single issue year in and year out would make me personally uneasy, but people have to vote their consciences.
I would generally agree, but there are times when the moment arises.
It's extremely damaging to the Constitution and the rule of law for the feds to turn a blind eye to the breaking of immigration laws by millions of illegals.
We must enforce all laws, or none: selective einforcement only breeds bitter cynicism and eventually disrespect for all laws and finally to anarchy.
What's even worse is to allow millions of illegal alien foreigner to vote freely in our elections, as they do in Kali. If this is not a total sellout of national sovereignty and trampling of actual U.S. citizen's rights, what is?
'88 wasn't bad, but I'll take '94's "Contract With America" over the "Kinder and gentler" "1000 Points of Light."
With a total of FOUR issues, I guess that makes me pretty sophisticated.
I thought it was the Mini-14.
BTW, someone asked, but I'm pretty positive that Saber will be voting for Simon in November. Simon has said he wants stronger borders and is against the Amnesty. I heard him say it on Savage's program the other day.
The one exception will be Arlen Spector, who will NEVER receive my vote.
Well, it kinda depends on if they're a big enough bloc of swing voters.
Where is Ross Perot when ya need him?
Depends on the issue, naturally. In a contest between someone who advocates genocide and someone who doesn't, then by all means let "whether or not they are genocidal" be the single issue which dictates your vote :)
I guess the question is whether you consider immigration matters sufficiently important to dictate yoru vote like that. I guess you do. Well, that's your right. Just don't come complaining to any of us when it turns out that the guy you voted for Because Of The Single Issue Of Immigration turns out to be Charles Manson.
I understand that there are issues people feel so strongly about that they feel the need to magnify these feelings, and communicate them dramatically to politicians, by becoming single issue voters. In some cases (i.e. abortion) it seems to work, because the party gets the message that they had better nominate someone who is Correct on the issue, OR ELSE. This even drifts into the Republican party in a state like California, where they were almost convinced that they should nominate themselves a Democrat like Riordan for governor simply because he's not pro-life and thus wouldn't anger the (presumably) larger-than-average single-issue pro-choice voters out there.
I understand the motivations and forces behind all this, and behind wanting to be a single-issue voter, and to tell everyone that you are.
I still don't think it's a sign of a healthy or informed elecotrate, however. Over time these Single-Issue voters become indistinguishable from No-Thought voters, and eventually the Single Issue which these voters enslave their votes to ends up becoming like a mini-pagan-religion. "I cannot vote for you because you do not honor my god, Pro-Choice, you worship at the altar of his archenemy, Pro-Life, you heathen."
I know, I know, no one says stuff like that, but the effect is the same.
What's wrong with simply deciding these things on a case-by-case basis, again?
Are you a citizen of Scottland?
I can't imagine Democrat voters punishing Democrat candidates for supporting Bush's tax cut.
"I'm so mad about that tax cut, that I'll vote for a Republican next time." Doesn't sound right, does it?
Even the Green Party isn't comprised of disaffected Democrats. It's communists, anti-globalists, and young people who don't understand the real world.
No, I think it's just us who throw the baby out with the bathwater.
For example, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. Another example, although imo, an evil one is John Brown. As much as I dislike him, I admire his single minded determination. In the end he had a lot of influence if for no other reason than he polarized people.
Nothing. I might have a different issue next time, or go back to Party Line voting.
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