slythe, it pains me to have to disagree with a fellow moderator, but here’s what I have to say to reply to your arguments.
First of all, you are assuming that switching from Nader to Gore will ensure Gore’s victory, and keeping my vote for Nader will case Gore’s defeat. I’m not so convinced that’s true.
Some of your arguments:
The Greens should field local candidates. - In my part of the world, they are! I am voting for Green candidates for state assembly and US congress also. In addition, I think I mentioned in another thread that in the USA a political party will not be taken seriously if they don’t field a candidate for president in the presidential elections.
The polls show that Nader has no chance. - Granted. Let me ask you this: If opinion polls showed George W. Bush Jr. as having an unsurmountable lead in the opinion polls, would you then skip voting altogether and stay at home? Your vote would be pointless anyway. In any event, I think someone has mentioned this before, but if the Green Party gets 5% of the vote they can qualify for federal matching funds, which is a good goal for the green party. Additionally, the more votes Green Party candidates get this time, the better chance they have of attracting voters next time, because many citizens (such as yourself) choose a party based on its popularity in addition to its platform.
«If the Naderites swing the election towards Bush they, and they alone, should be held resposible for the consequences thereof.» From today’s comic strip The Boondocks: «So you’re saying if Gore loses, it’s the fault of the handful of us with the courage to vote for Nader, not the millions of nimrods who’ll vote for G.W. Bush … That’s so unfair!!»