# If you could fix the U.S. presidential election, would you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423 "2012-08-04T14:23:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/1 "2012-08-04T14:23:25Z")
This question stems from an argument I had with a friend several months back. I said I would not, for two main reasons: (1) I thought it was obnoxious to presume that my research and opinions superseded everyone else’s. (2) Even supposing that it DID, I would rather work on changing the minds of the American people through a grassroots effort. I think working to actually change people’s minds, or at least get them to re-examine their thinking, is more productive than imposing your will on people who are resistant to your ideas. He said he would, and his reasoning was essentially this: we are in a precarious position as a nation right now. Most obviously in reference to our economic situation, but in many other ways as well: environmentally, militarily, and morally. If it took some dishonest activity to get the right person in power and save our nation, that was a more noble course of action than watching our nation crumble because we wouldn’t do whatever was necessary to get the right person in power. I thought it was an interesting response, so I’m interested in hearing more opinions on this. Would you throw the election if you could, and why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/2 "2012-08-04T14:25:54Z")
I would not. Perhaps the ends would justify the means if a genocidal maniac was one of the candidates, but short of that, I would not hope for anything but a legitimate victory for my candidate. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/3 "2012-08-04T15:17:33Z")
Ooh good point. If one of the contenders were a genocidal maniac I’d throw the vote. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/4 "2012-08-04T15:17:50Z")
I would not and you summed up the reasons quite well. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/5 "2012-08-04T15:18:37Z")
Since it is patently obvious that my opinion is the only valid one, sure I would. But it would have to be under specific circumstances. Having a Republican president isn’t a problem as long as the Democrats control both houses of Congress, for example. But to prevent the Republicans from having control…in a heartbeat. Democracy be damned! My way uber alles! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/6 "2012-08-04T15:43:12Z")
I don’t know what this is about. If you throw a fight, it means to take a dive, to give up. Why would anyone do that in an election? To throw a party means to hold a party. So in that regard, we already have an election, and the people, of whom I am one, throws an election already. What are we talking about here? ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/7 "2012-08-04T16:14:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t know what this is about. If you throw a fight, it means to take a dive, to give up. Why would anyone do that in an election? To throw a party means to hold a party. So in that regard, we already have an election, and the people, of whom I am one, throws an election already. > > What are we talking about here? Oh you’re right. I meant if you could fix the election, not throw it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/8 "2012-08-04T16:49:35Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Oh you’re right. I meant if you could fix the election, not throw it. Wait, when you say fix do you mean … 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/9 "2012-08-04T17:07:01Z")
Depends upon how much they’re willing to pay me to do it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/10 "2012-08-04T21:51:35Z")
Bloody hell, no. Democracy may not be sacred, but it’s very close to it. If I had that power, somehow, I’d report myself to the FBI, and work with them diligently to make sure that no one else ever attains it! (However…if I had a couple billion dollars, yeah, I confess, I’d probably use twenty million of it to buy superPAC ads for candidates and causes I favor. Not quite the same thing…is it?) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/11 "2012-08-04T22:54:45Z")
Does the OP ask if I would commit crimes in order to change an election outcome? No. No politician is worth me risking a minute in prison. Does the OP ask if I would do anything within the letter of the law (including spending boatloads of money) to prevent someone I saw as a catastrophic choice from gaining office? Probably. But I wouldn’t do the same to get a “favorite” elected over someone who I thought was merely mediocre or poor. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/12 "2012-08-04T23:26:14Z")
No. I’m not in marketing. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/13 "2012-08-04T23:54:40Z")
It would be wrong, but I’d do it. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/14 "2012-08-04T23:59:33Z")
Yes, without a seconds hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/15 "2012-08-05T00:38:02Z")
No… it’s fucking Romney. If wins, my first words will be “huh…” and go about my day. I don’t believe there will be much change either way depending on who gets elected, and the economy wouldn’t be fixed. I wouldn’t even throw it if it were Bush, the fact that the election-breaking loophole exists for other people would keep me up nights. Assuming the Illuminati aren’t already in it. If Norsefire is gaining votes or something I might consider it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/16 "2012-08-05T02:55:25Z")
Sure. Sounds cheaper and easier than getting a handful of multimillionaires to fund my super PACs. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-fix-the-u-s-presidential-election-would-you/630423/17 "2012-08-05T02:56:42Z")
Absolutely. 'Cause I’m an arrogant, amoral asshole. Given time, I might come up with a morally and logically sound argument that it would be right to do so, but it would be a lie.