Written for the American Conservative, here is my short piece on the election:
The critical problem we face today is the same one all mankind has faced: the state, those monopolists who claim the right to break the laws that they make and enforce. How to restrain them is the critical problem of all sound political thinking. Making matters worse, this gang now has a monopoly on the money and the ability to print it, and they are abusing that power at our expense.
How does voting change the situation? Neither of the candidates for president wants to do anything about the problem. On the contrary, they want to make it worse. This is for a reason. The state owns the “democratic process” as surely as it owns the Departments of Labor and Defense and uses it in ways that benefit the state and no one else.
On the other hand, we do have the freedom not to vote. No one has yet drafted us into the voting booth. I suggest that we exercise this right not to participate. It is one of the few rights we have left. Nonparticipation sends a message that we no longer believe in the racket they have cooked up for us, and we want no part of it.
You might say that this is ineffective. But what effect does voting have? It gives them what they need most: a mandate. Nonparticipation helps deny that to them. It makes them, just on the margin, a bit more fearful that they are ruling us without our consent. This is all to the good. The government should fear the people. Not voting is a good beginning toward instilling that fear.
This year especially there is no lesser of two evils. There is socialism or fascism. The true American spirit should guide every voter to have no part of either.
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C. Evans:
“Kings tend to substitute their own rules for God’s rule; hence, the desire for a monarch being a rejection of God’s rule. Presidents, Congress, the Supreme Court Justices do the same thing and lead the people into idolatry.”
So our politicians should just quit and we should be ruled directly by God? You want a priesthood again or something?
I wrote in Ron Paul for President and “None of the Above” for the other races.
Mark is absolutely right that the LORD God is sovereign and in total control of this huge mess we call USA.
While the Lion of Judah is indeed in control, we Christians are duty bound by the dominion mandate in Genesis to subdue this creation. Non-voting hardly seems a wise or prudent means to subdue anything, accept perhaps one’s own abdication of responsibility (which it doesn’t).
I will be voting intelligently and STRATEGICALLY for Bob Barr. I do so because my home state of Mississippi historically goes red. If I resided elsewhere, I would be voting with Mark for McCain as the lesser of two evils.
This is the real world. We cannot simply hide our heads into Utopian sand hoping it all just somehow goes away.
Mark,
I had a feeling that you were Reformed. You sound very much like a Calvinist. Calvin’s theology of the State is one of the reasons I don’t particularly like him and this is why I am reassessing my Protestantism. It appears to me that you all are too willing to cop out and submit to evil with your theology of preordination.
I am not twisting anything. The power of the State belongs to Satan. Jesus doesn’t dispute this. The power is Satan’s to give away. Thus to accept this power is to accept Satan’s rule. You want to focus on the just the worship of Satan. I am focusing on what Satan gives you for worshipping him.
“Are you saying this passage only requires Christians to submit to non-corrupt – i.e., ‘holy’ – states? There has never been one.â€
I am saying it is foolish to take this text literally as many Protestants in this country do (yet another reason I am reconsidering Protestantism). As I pointed out, Paul disobeyed the State when it told him not to preach to the Gospel. Many Christians were martyred because they did not obey the State when the Stat told them to worship it. Based on your literal understanding of the texts, these Christians were actually disobeying God by preaching the Gospel and living for Christ. Is this a conclusion you want to make because this is exactly where your logic leads? Moreover, in a democracy, supposedly we can shape our government. I believe the best way to shape it is to educate people about the true nature of the State and encourage them to withdraw their consent. Why do you find this so offensive? Why, in an ostensibly Christian nation, should we tolerate a method of selecting rulers which requires lying, covetousness, theft, and murder?
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
If you take this literally, why are you so afraid of Obama as president? If he is elected this would mean that God has chosen him agent on earth. So what’s the problem? How does my vote change anything? Are you saying I should vote as a matter of obedience? If Obama is elected, everything he does is God’s will. God is bringing his will to completion through Obama. So why are you so afraid of his presidency? Why should I be so concerned with McCain? Just because he says he is against abortion I should back him? You still haven’t addressed this. Again, based on your literal interpretation of this text, what can I do to change anything through voting? It seems to me that you believe that not voting for McCain is paramount to disobeying the Decalogue.
And you still haven’t addressed anything I mentioned about Christians who covet and lie to get such power, which is the only way one can get elected in this country. This does not seem to bother you. In fact, the only thing that appears to really bother you is abortion and you will swallow whatever poison McCain gives you to accomplish this. But, as I told you before, Wise Up! The Republicans are not going to address abortion as long as Reformed Congregants like you will vote for them regardless of their actual actions or in this case inaction on abortion. This is how worldly power works and you are deceiving yourself if you think that voting for him will defend the unborn. I say again to you, Wise Up!
Regarding my belief that the State is evil and my decision not to vote, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.†(2 Cor 4-5). You can believe in democracy all you wish and if you believe that voting is truly an act of obedience to God, do so. But my own conscience is clear and I refuse to support or lend any legitimacy to this Satanic power known as the as State. I have no problem standing before God on this issue and giving Him this account.
“While the Lion of Judah is indeed in control, we Christians are duty bound by the dominion mandate in Genesis to subdue this creation. Non-voting hardly seems a wise or prudent means to subdue anything, accept perhaps one’s own abdication of responsibility (which it doesn’t).”
Why don’t Christians just use violence and subdue the earth? It’s much more effective than voting and gives the psychic satisfaction of actually having real results. Mark doesn’t seem to have a problem with lies, theft, and covetousness which is necessary to be elected at any high office in this country, especially the presidency. Let’s just use our Second Amendment right (while we have it) and conquer the world. Clearly if we win and become the governing the authorities, God will favor us according to Rom 13. If He already approves of lies, covetousness, and theft to attain power, so He can’t picky about murder.
“This is the real world. We cannot simply hide our heads into Utopian sand hoping it all just somehow goes away.”
No one on this blog is hiding; some of us would like to find out how the world works as much as possible which is why we devote ourselves to study and learning. Given the amount of ignorance of economic theory, American history, and world history, and disdain of political philosophy among the masses, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.
Mr. Evans,
Because we are not commanded to do so, instead we are called increasingly conform our lives to that of Christ, who rebuked Peter for temporarily relieving that centurion of one of his ears.
I genuinely respect the wisdom and insight displayed by many on this blog. I do not accuse anyone of hiding from educating themselves or others or not being active in presenting the real changes we as a country needs. This positive real interchange between like-minded folks is exactly why I am encouraged to continue to visit this site. However, I do believe a non-vote is pragmatically non-effective and is equivalent to hiding one’s head in sand in that, for all practical purposes, it accomplishes very little, besides personal satisfaction. I clearly understand that you disagree with this view. However, one beneficial purpose of this forum is to express our own genuine views on the issues, and hopefully inform, educate, and encourage others, who may be new in breaking away from the propaganda machine of those in power.
I am unwilling to engage in a tit-for-tat with you as Mark has. It is clear that you are in a somewhat combative mode. As a brother in Christ, I would encourage you to take a deep breath and reflect on the 2nd Commandment a bit.
I am very impressed with all the excellent arguments for and against voting that have been presented here, and I wish I had these things things to consider before I actually voted. It may have dissuaded me.
However, the one thing I am certain of when it comes to voting is this: My vote did not matter, it had no effect, it was a completely irrational act.
Yet I felt a certain uneasiness with the actions of government, which drove me to vote in protest against the democrats and the republicans.
Sometimes even irrational action can remove a little uneasiness.
Mark Z,
I appears to me that you did, in fact, have clear rationale for your “irrational” voting. You state that you voted in protest to the duopoly parties and that it relieved a bit of your uneasiness with the powers in charge.
Kudos to you! An intelligent reasoned vote.
Let us all do the same.
“I am unwilling to engage in a tit-for-tat with you as Mark has. It is clear that you are in a somewhat combative mode. As a brother in Christ, I would encourage you to take a deep breath and reflect on the 2nd Commandment a bit.”
Exodus 20:3-You shall not have any gods before me.
Yes, Greg B, I am combative because I genuinely believe that the State is an idol and Satan’s power on Earth and it irks me that conservatives like Mark believe that it is my Christian duty to blindly obey it. I also have issues with Calvin and American Protestantism which fuel my fire; this is in part why I was trying not to go there regarding religion and the State. But Mark called my faith into question and I felt I had no choice but to defend myself.
If you want some insight into my soul, read The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude by Etienne de la Boetie.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes,
“There are always a few, better endowed than others, who feel the weight of the yoke and cannot restrain themselves from attempting to shake it off: these are the men who never become tamed under subjection and who always, like Ulysses on land and sea constantly seeking the smoke of his chimney, cannot prevent themselves from peering about for their natural privileges and from remembering their ancestors and their former ways. These are in fact the men who, possessed of clear minds and far-sighted spirit, are not satisfied, like the brutish mass, to see only what is at their feet, but rather look about them, behind and before, and even recall the things of the past in order to judge those of the future, and compare both with their present condition. These are the ones who, having good minds of their own, have further trained them by study and learning. Even if liberty had entirely perished from the earth, such men would invent it. For them slavery has no satisfactions, no matter how well disguised.”
Some of us are illequipped to suffer at the hands of others. We are deeply in touch with our natural rights and can’t be still; such people were necessary to craft the Declaration of Independence and fight for their freedom.
I see democracy for the scam that it is, I see the State for the murderous criminal gang that it is, I see the entire political process as a drama designed to distract the masses from the real criminal activity. I have decided to educate myself to this truth and tell others, hoping that they may also withdraw their consent to be ruled like slaves.
If you genuinely feel that voting makes a difference and receive personal satisfaction for your participation in the democratic process, then do so. But to use your own words with one edit, “…I do believe [VOTING] is pragmatically non-effective and is equivalent to hiding one’s head in sand in that, for all practical purposes, it accomplishes very little, besides personal satisfaction.” We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this matter.
All of our problems will be solved if we could just abandon agnosticism and vote for which ever candidate makes us feel better about the mythology that was brutally beaten into our heads as children.
Then we will have a moral and decent government just like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
C. Evans
“Satanic power known as the as State”
I was going to write more, but this really takes the cake. If you really think the State in and of itself is satanic, then how is it you admire Ron Paul? He’s part of the “the murderous criminal gang” as you call it. Dude, you need to find an island somewhere so you won’t have to be subject to anyone, and you won’t contribute in any way to Satan’s minions here in the US of A. You’re not one of the brutish mass. You deserve the best!
i believe politics is the most important thing in your life because it defines the framework wherein you get to live your life.
also don’t be so afraid of a little socialism.
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2007/01/04/the-danish-model/
it’s a lot to read but paints a picture of how things work where i come from.
Martin,
“Don’t be so afraid of a little socialism”? How about “don’t be so afraid of a little lead in your food? Socialism is an affront to liberty. Socialism paves the way for the highway to economic slavery. We should all be afraid of socialism, in any form, in any dosage.
Interesting what kinds of “doesn’t follows” can get packed behind a simple idea of not voting. Two that caught me:
Sending a signal: What is the general situation? Most votes are divided between two main parties, small sample goes to alternatives, and a substantial portion doesn’t vote. Well then, which message has a better signal-to-noise ratio: adding to the non-vote, increasing it by a third or perhaps half? Or steering the same amount to 3rd parties, making that piece double or triple? If you want to send a message, this is the choice.
Non-voting as prerequisity for tax avoidance: there’s no reasonable connection between the two acts. Send a message via voting, then send another via taxes if you’re brave enough.
Acknowledging that my vote has no effect is not “sticking my head in the sand”. It is acceptance of reality.
I’m not speaking in a theoretical sense. I’ve been voting since 1980. I’ve voted for the “major” parties and for 3rd parties. The effect has fallen between zero and zip-point-nada.
So, this time will be different? How?
Remember, Enjoy Every Sandwich, Clarence Darrow’s famous words, “Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.” Vote accordingly.
Actually, Ireland, since you have to register with your state in order to vote, I can see being non-registered (and thus not voting) as part of a plan to “go underground” and minimize the paper trail to yourself. Voter registration requires your name and address (and date of birth, iirc).
Michael, there is a difference between fighting for a cause and stubbornly continuing a game of three card monte in the hope that “this time I really will win”.
Mark,
This is the last time I will respond to your comments on this topic for am I weary of this sectarian debate. It is quite unusual for someone such as you to appear on this blog given that most of us are either anti-State libertarians or limited government libertarians. I expect most debates to be an exchange of ideas. This exchange may be heated sometimes, but I have yet to see it become personal as our exchange has become. I care not for your fear mongering about how miserable life would be under Obama nor your tacit belief that not voting for McCain is synonymous with heresy nor for your Reformed Theology.
Cleary you are a committed conservative and if you feel that McCain will save the unborn, knock on every door you wish and stump all you want. You are also committed to your Reformed Theology; again, good for you. I don’t like Calvin and meeting you has helped me along in my discernment process. I think the idea that Christians should endure tyrants and blindly obey their dictates is ridiculous; it is a product of unsound theological reflection and I’m glad that Thomas Jefferson among other revolutionaries did not agree with Calvin. You will not persuade me to vote for McCain or adopt Reformed Theology.
I admire Ron Paul because he is the only member of Congress or the entire government for that matter who understands economics, he is the only one who believes in limited government, and he has access to the mainstream through CNN and MSNBC to educate the public. Given no one else in government, especially your dear McCain, adheres to any principles at all other than the lust for power, I see no reason why I can’t like a man that defends sound money, nonaggression, and freedom. He still is not radical enough for me and he is still a member of Congress, and I still wouldn’t vote for him. But as I told Greg B, we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this matter.
No, I do not consider myself one of the masses; I study as much as I can about economics, history, and political theory and much of what I have learned recently I was never exposed to at any time in public school or college. I believe that my decision to do so is already paying dividends for I can now see the State and its agents for what they are. I talk about this with anyone who will listen, but as Robert Higgs has pointed out, people need to be in a certain mindset to receive such challenging information. Clearly you are not so this exchange has to end on my part.
No, I do not consider myself one of the brutish masses
I think Mark epitomizes the classic case of a statist who just can’t seem to understand the simple statement of “Live and let live.” He, like all other statists who believe in controlling what other people think or do, believes in telling people what to think or do, and when they don’t agree with the thoughts in his prism, he feels the need to compensate for it by resorting to personal attacks.
If you are that die-hard on voting for McCain, then go vote for him. But if you are trying to convince a bunch of anti-state/ limited government libertarians on mises.org to vote for McCain over Obama, you are playing a fools game.
And kindly, please disappear. Your presence is ruining the coherence and serenity of these boards.
I will go to the voting site and if I see any alternative that meets the standard of principled classical liberalism then I will vote, only in that instance.
I will leave after either finding a glimmer of hope or none.
Either way I will be very willing to express my opinion to anyone who asks that voting is becoming increasingly an unethical act.
Would anyone change their voting behavior if every office listed on ballots included a “None of the Above” option?
That would allow individuals to explicitly express their dissatisfaction with all candidates offered rather than assume it will somehow be registered through their lack of participation which will almost certainly be characterized as either apathy or outright laziness by political analysts and pundits.
To Mike (who commented on October 27, 2008 12:28 PM),
You said exactly what I was about to. There are other choices besides “Neither of the (two) candidates.” And if a candidate that I like didn’t make it onto the ballot… there’s always a good old fashioned write in. The choices are only limited if we roll over and play dead.
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