Don't Tell Me How I Must Vote

I'm voting for Jill and shame on you for trying to talk me out of it!

It was not a pleasant encounter. We were walking by the town courthouse today when we were accosted—right word—by someone we know who asked us if we intended to vote for the reelection of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Nope. We intend to vote for someone we like for a change—Green Party candidate Jill Stein. The questioner turned inquisitor and became livid and indignant. At one point she literally yelled at us, “This isn’t the primary anymore. You can’t vote for who you want. If you intend to vote for Jill Stein you should just go ahead and vote for [Republican candidate] Charlie Baker.” Phoenix walked away and I should have done likewise, but I couldn’t resist a parting shot: “I’d shoot myself before I voted for an idiot like Baker, but I’m done voting for Democrats I can’t stand. For once I intend to vote for the person who shares my values, and until more of us have the courage to do so, we’re not going to change society.”

The more I considered the encounter, the angrier it made me. Lets forget the specifics of Massachusetts politics and dissect this a different way. I “can’t” vote for the candidate I “want?” Excuse me! As Americans we have the right to debate politics, but when someone starts telling us how we must vote, that person has crossed more than a civility line. It is our fundamental right to exercise our franchise as we see fit. One may me engage me in disputation, but when this becomes coercion and harassment, my rights are being trampled. Frankly, this encounter destroyed even the slightest thought I entertained of voting for Patrick.

I have a thick skin and I’ll get over my anger. The Democratic Party might not. Encapsulated in the unpleasantry is a deeper problem: the Democratic strategy of late has been to define itself by way of negation. One should cast a vote for something and if all you have for me is “We’re not the Other Guy,” count me out. I’m a left progressive and the Democratic Party has systematically ignored me, my values, and my causes. What’s the Other Guy going to do to me that that the Dems haven’t already done? They remind me of the moocher who pretends to be your friend—at some point you get sick of him and never again invite him to your parties.

I’m also tired of people telling me that the people whose values I share can’t win so I must settle for the lesser of two evils. That’s gutless garbage. I’ve seen good people win who didn’t have a D or an R after their name. Check out what Burlington, Vermont did (and keeps on doing). It didn’t happen overnight, but it can only happen when we say “no” to those who betray us daily and seek to befriend us when it's convenient. I won’t speak for Phoenix, but I’m voting for Jill Stein. If the polls are correct, she’ll get about 4% of the vote. It’s very possible that Deval Patrick will lose by 2% or less. If that happens, I will feel not the slightest pang of guilt—he gave me no positive reason to vote for him.