Speaking from experience, it can be hard to be a Bernie Sanders supporter. The calls to political revolution that echoed in our hearts a few months ago have been quashed by the results of what felt like an unfair nomination process. Now, it seems that many former Bernie fans and generally anti-Clinton liberals have turned to Libertarian party candidate Gary Johnson as their nominee of choice.
Um, what?
One of the most basic rights we have as American citizens is our right to vote for whichever candidate we feel is best suited for the office of presidency. And if you truly feel like Gary Johnson is the man for the job, then by all means, vote for him. Tell your friends about him. Even campaign for him. But if your first choice for president was Bernie Sanders or your complaint with Clinton is that she's too moderate, then why would Gary Johnson even be an option for your vote?
Sure, you may agree with Johnson on some issues like LGBTQ+ rights and marijuana legalization, but his liberal appeal stops there. His steadfastness to the principles of an open market means that he supports free trade agreements and opposes environmental regulation, tuition-free college, and government intervention in healthcare. These ideas, combined with his vague responses on illegal immigration, make me nervous. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that these policies, which will having a lasting impact of the United States' environmental and economic future, are utterly at odds with typical liberal thought.
Do I still believe in political revolution? Of course. Was Hillary Clinton my first choice for president? No. But in the end, her beliefs, and the beliefs enumerated in the Democratic Party platform, match mine far more closely than those of any other candidate on the ballot. And if this is the reason that you're voting for Gary Johnson, then all the more power to you. But if you're voting for him to continue some sort of revolution, just ask yourself, at what point are you willing to compromise your beliefs? Because we will always have our local and state elections to vote in candidates who will disrupt the status quo from the bottom up. But there may never be this poignant of a presidential election ever again, and I refuse to act against my conscience for a protest vote.
