Okay, heres the thing: I have been following the U.S. presidential debates. It may come as no surprise to some that I am something of a conservative. But this year I am faced with a problem. One of the candidates is against gun control (Bush), a view I strongly share. Yet I find myself agreeing with Gores positions on nearly everything else. Economics, social policy, foreign policy (especially concerning Africa), education, health care, the environment, you name it and I agree with Gore. But I couldnt possibly disgree with him more about gun control.
My fear is that I will vote for him and then see him push through stringent new gun laws. I am NOT posting this thread to start yet another debate about gun control. What I would like to have are some thoughts from all you Dopers on whether I would be amiss to vote for Bush solely because of his stance on gun control. It is an issue quite important to me, but when I think of casting my vote for yet another Republican “good ole boy” I start squirming. I think Gore would be a better president in every way except for this one issue I can’t get past.
So whats up, Dopers? Should I swallow my misgivings, or stand on (my one) principle?
Don’t be a one-issue voter. While I am a certified liberal who favors some form of gun control, the likelyhood of President Gore somehow singlehandedly ramming a gun control bill through congress is ludicrous. The President probably has little to do with a stricter gun control bill being passed.
It would be very surprising if you agreed with either of the major party candidates on every issue. No matter whom you vote for, you’re going to have to compromise on some issue, and probably more than one, big and small.
If it bothers you to vote for a candidate with whom you disagree on gun control, then make sure that you make your feelings on that issue known. Vote for Congressional and state candidates who support your position, maybe even write some letters to the appropriate officials expressing your position.
Checks and balances means that the president is unlikely to be able to get anything enacted entirely on his own.
I might end up being the first pro-gun Nader voter, if it make you feel any better. I like gas guzzling big block V8’s, too. Maybe the only Green with a 73 Trans Am. Vroom.
Well, Lizard, I myself would be hard pressed to vote for Gore under any circumstances. Having said that, if you mostly agree with Gore, and if you you think he belongs in the White House as opposed to the federal pen, then you should vote for him. Yeah, he’ll push as much anti-gun legislation as he can get away with, but realistically that won’t be all that much even if the Democrats take control of both houses of Congress (which I regard as unlikely).
Voting for someone who agrees with you on a single issue–even if it’s the most important one to you–as opposed to someone who agrees with you on everything else makes no sense. You need to look at the total package.
I have to agree with samclem. Try not to be a single issue voter. There are many things affecting you and this country and to place one, single item so highly so as to outstrip all other concerns seems simple in the extreme.
That isn’t to say you can’t weight your opinions. Make a list of things for Gore and things for Bush. Assign a numerical value to each item that indicates your strength of feeling on that issue (say between 1-10 or 1-100). Add up your columns and, if you’ve been as honest with yourself as you can about ranking your priorities, the answer should pop out for you.
So, if Bush wins for you on Gun Control and it’s REALLY important to you then give it a 95. Gore gets 20 points for abortion issues, 15 points for taxes and 30 points for foreign policy then Bush wins anyway, 95 to 65. (BTW - I pulled those numbers out my ass…they are no reflection of my personal opinions so don’t bust my chops for them).
I have to agree with samclem. Try not to be a single issue voter. There are many things affecting you and this country and to place one, single item so highly so as to outstrip all other concerns seems simple in the extreme.
That isn’t to say you can’t weight your opinions. Make a list of things for Gore and things for Bush. Assign a numerical value to each item that indicates your strength of feeling on that issue (say between 1-10 or 1-100). Add up your columns and, if you’ve been as honest with yourself as you can about ranking your priorities, the answer should pop out for you.
So, if Bush wins for you on Gun Control and it’s REALLY important to you then give it a 95. Gore gets 20 points for abortion issues, 15 points for taxes and 30 points for foreign policy then Bush wins anyway, 95 to 65. (BTW - I pulled those numbers out my ass…they are no reflection of my personal opinions so don’t bust my chops for them).
My two-cents:
I identify myself as a Nader voter; voted for him in '96, and the plan for Campaign 2000 was, cast a vote for him a second time.
However, I live in one of those “battleground states” that the candidates need to win the election. The race is pretty close right now and if it is still this close on election day, I will have to bite the bullet and change my vote from Nader to Gore. I don’t want to, but so it goes.
Go ahead and call me a “one-issue voter”, I don’t mind, I’m proud. My one issue, you see, is as follows: Bush is a clueless puppet of the rich and a shocking, abyssal retard to boot. I would be delighted to sacrifice ALL of my principles if it will help keep that fool out of the Oval Office.
Change my vote to Gore - is that all I’d have to do? Hell, I’d …