NationStates Jolt Archive


Election 08: Who should the socialists vote for?

Port Arcana
20-02-2008, 03:46
I'm curious to hear the arguments of NSG.

Although I don't think there are that many socialist workers in the states, I'm still interested to know which candidate is more likely to carry out policies that could be considered mildly "socialist". :)

I used to support both Obama and Clinton, but then I realised that Hillary is less likely to carry out the universal healthcare policy that both candidates are supposedly backing. Alternatively, I could vote for Brian Moore, the actual candidate for the American Socialist Party, but the vote will be so insignificant that it's like peeing in the ocean.

Thoughts?

I know there's a few uber right-winged yanks on this forum who cringes at the thought of "socialism" and "america" in the same sentence, but no flames please. I'm not trying to flamebait, I just want a discussion. :)
Soheran
20-02-2008, 03:55
Socialists should vote for whoever in the primary and then give critical support to the Democrats in the general election.
New Limacon
20-02-2008, 03:57
I thought Clinton's universal health care policy was more universal than Obama's. What caused you to doubt her?
Soheran
20-02-2008, 04:00
what if all of you decided to vote your conviction?

Then we hand the election to the Republicans.

(Unless there are so few socialists in this country that we're still pee in the ocean.)
Cannot think of a name
20-02-2008, 04:02
Your vote isn't pee in the ocean. Especially if you don't think it will sway the electoral college in your area. If you are for the Socialist Party and don't want them to be pee in the ocean then you need to vote for them. The whole point of the Green Party running Ralph Nader wasn't because they thought they had a winning candidate, but that they had a candidate with enough name recognition that they could reach the 15% threshold for federal funds and other benefits that come from essentially moving up a tier as a political party. Your vote helps your party reach that goal. The major parties will tell you that it's wasted, but what if all of you decided to vote your conviction? You'd get closer to the stage. By removing your vote you're condemning your own party. The two major parties won't just step aside.
Gigantic Leprechauns
20-02-2008, 04:06
They should vote for Soheran. What, Soheran's not running for President? Who cares? Vote for him, anyway! :mad:
Trotskylvania
20-02-2008, 04:06
Personally, I'm voting Green, but only since the SPUSA won't have their write ins counted in my home state of Montana. I'd encourage others to support whatever left-wing third party that they feel most closely fits their own personal beliefs.
Port Arcana
20-02-2008, 04:07
I thought Clinton's universal health care policy was more universal than Obama's. What caused you to doubt her?

Well, the fact that Clinton's been taking a lot of money and campaign contributions from large corporations, or so I've heard. =\

I just don't think she's will be as committed as Obama to a universal healthcare system. Then again that was just personal opinion. I could be wrong.
Bedouin Raiders
20-02-2008, 04:08
probably obama cuz he is the only liberal with a shot. hillary can't beat mccain. mccain is going to play the foreign poicy card which make shim look great. he is a foreign policy expert and by playing on peoples fears he can get a lot of ovtes. he is also moderate which will get a lot of indies and some dems. the conservatives will rally around him to avoid obama or hillary
obama is the only one with the popularity to beat him
Jello Biafra
20-02-2008, 04:10
As of right now, vote for a third party candidate. The Democrats are popular enough that there's little reason to suppose a Republican will win the presidency, so voting third party won't give the presidency to the republicans. (Of course, the Dems could always snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they've done before, but at the moment this isn't happening.)
Port Arcana
20-02-2008, 04:11
probably obama cuz he is the only liberal with a shot. hillary can't beat mccain. mccain is going to play the foreign poicy card which make shim look great. he is a foreign policy expert and by playing on peoples fears he can get a lot of ovtes. he is also moderate which will get a lot of indies and some dems. the conservatives will rally around him to avoid obama or hillary
obama is the only one with the popularity to beat him

Yeah, that's another reason. Obama's got more crossover votes from the Republican side, which makes him slightly more electable than Clinton when it comes down to the actual election in November.
Kyronea
20-02-2008, 04:16
I'm curious to hear the arguments of NSG.

Although I don't think there are that many socialist workers in the states, I'm still interested to know which candidate is more likely to carry out policies that could be considered mildly "socialist". :)

I used to support both Obama and Clinton, but then I realised that Hillary is less likely to carry out the universal healthcare policy that both candidates are supposedly backing. Alternatively, I could vote for Brian Moore, the actual candidate for the American Socialist Party, but the vote will be so insignificant that it's like peeing in the ocean.

Thoughts?

I know there's a few uber right-winged yanks on this forum who cringes at the thought of "socialism" and "america" in the same sentence, but no flames please. I'm not trying to flamebait, I just want a discussion. :)
Right now I think your best bet is to go for Obama.
Cannot think of a name
20-02-2008, 04:22
Then we hand the election to the Republicans.

(Unless there are so few socialists in this country that we're still pee in the ocean.)

That's the rhetoric, but the reality is that with the way the electoral college in many voting districts that just isn't the case. Besides, it's the Democratic Party's responsibility to compel you to vote for them, not against someone else.
Soheran
20-02-2008, 04:26
That's the rhetoric, but the reality is that with the way the electoral college in many voting districts that just isn't the case.

Indeed. People who aren't in split states should vote for Brian Moore. Support for the Democrats only extends to supporting them when it matters.

Besides, it's the Democratic Party's responsibility to compel you to vote for them, not against someone else.

That's not the way coalition politics work in a two-party system. If they tried to do that for everyone, they would have even less of a coherent platform than they do now, and lose all of us.
Soheran
20-02-2008, 04:31
They should vote for Soheran. What, Soheran's not running for President? Who cares? Vote for him, anyway!

Haha... it would be amusing if "Soheran" actually got write-in votes.
Sel Appa
20-02-2008, 05:18
Obama, clearly. As a socialist myself, I strongly support him. If he isn't nominated and McCain pisses me off somehow, I'm going for Brian Moore.
Dyakovo
20-02-2008, 06:14
Andaras Prime for Президент '08
Gigantic Leprechauns
20-02-2008, 06:15
Andaras Prime for Президент '08

ROFLMAO
Andaras
20-02-2008, 07:11
Socialists should not work within the bourgeois political system, this is because it's a waste of time, because it's controlled by capitalism any major social gains made by 'reform' rather than revolution will be reversed by the political arms of the capitalists.
Whatwhatia
22-02-2008, 04:52
My solution: socialists shouldn't vote.

They should emigrate to the EU.
PerpetualFriedman
22-02-2008, 04:52
Socialists should vote for the Republican candidate on the basis of the Leninist belief that the entire system must be fundamentally corroded before it can be overthrown. In the meantime, the rest of Americans will be able to bask in the economic prosperity that sensible conservatism entails.
Andaras
22-02-2008, 05:38
Whatwhatia, you are a dirty necromancer.
Kuampyala
22-02-2008, 05:51
My solution: socialists shouldn't vote.

They should emigrate to the EU.

o.O
Jello Biafra
22-02-2008, 18:27
My solution: socialists shouldn't vote.

They should emigrate to the EU.It's a nice thought, but would be quite a bit of culture shock at first, I'm sure.
PelecanusQuicks
22-02-2008, 19:40
My solution: socialists shouldn't vote.

They should emigrate to the EU.

I agree.
Laerod
22-02-2008, 19:46
It's a nice thought, but would be quite a bit of culture shock at first, I'm sure.As long as they keep their citizenship, they'll still be able to vote, though.
HuangTzu
22-02-2008, 22:04
EU? Socialist? Bah, enough of your tomfoolery.
Yootopia
22-02-2008, 22:09
The Democrats, obviously. The Republicans are anything but socialists, whereas some Democrats certainly are socialist in outlook.
Khadgar
22-02-2008, 22:09
A socialist? They ought vote for some third party. None of the major candidates are remotely socialist.
Yootopia
22-02-2008, 22:15
A socialist? They ought vote for some third party. None of the major candidates are remotely socialist.
Since that's pissing into the wind completely, might as well vote Democrat simply because they're the more socialist of the two parties that are going to get anywhere.
Ifreann
22-02-2008, 22:19
I liked the earlier idea of voting for Soheran.
Andaluciae
22-02-2008, 22:27
They should vote for Nathaniel Zachary West, in my opinion.
Khadgar
22-02-2008, 22:31
Since that's pissing into the wind completely, might as well vote Democrat simply because they're the more socialist of the two parties that are going to get anywhere.

Repeatedly endorsing the status quo doesn't do anything to help change things.