On the Privilege of Voting Third Party

Parents face the reality that a Trump presidency could create the scorched earth hellscape of our nightmares in which protecting our children will be impossible. Bullying will be modeled. Violence will be encouraged. All things Sesame Street will be a thing of the past.

Parents face the reality that a Trump presidency could create the scorched earth hellscape of our nightmares in which protecting our children will be impossible. Bullying will be modeled. Violence will be encouraged. All things Sesame Street will be a thing of the past.

It’s the day before Election day. As usual plenty of Vermonters and the like are kvetching about the horrible choices we’ve made and how they are brave enough to vote third party.

“If Trump wins folks can blame it on the DNC” and “if there's ever a time (two historically unpopular candidates) and place to add to the total number of people using their ballot as a signal of systemic no-confidence, it's here and now” are just two comments I’ve seen on social media in the last hour.

Here’s a little trend I’ve noticed. I have yet to encounter a single black person, disabled person, Latino, Muslim, Jew, or parent choosing to vote third party. I’m sure there are a handful. My sample size is limited and my study entirely unscientific. But why is the third party demographic overwhelmingly white and childless? Because they have no skin in the game.

An able white person with no kids has the unique privilege of being fairly certain to be able to live the same life under a HRC or Trump administration. So why not cast a vote for some nutjob to “shake up the system?” They have nothing to lose. Not because they have nothing, but because they won’t lose it.

Americans are obsessed with the idea that they can do whatever they want. It’s usually the left that supports socialized services and community organizations that encourage pooling our resources and working “together” as Obama puts it. So, it’s surprising to me that, in fact, American individualism runs so deep that, even on the left, at the end of the day, one’s vote isn’t about what’s best for the country it’s about what makes “me” happy.

I liked Bernie and supporting HRC was tough at first. I don’t take defeat well. But the Millennial mentality seems to have permeated even voting, where you can be whatever you want and do whatever makes you happy. So, I have some bad news for you, voters. Voting is not an open format question. It’s a multiple choice and there’s only two choices which could actually be the president. Sure, you can chose another option. If I ask my students: “Which is a map projection: a) Mercator or b) Pertater”, they can write-in another answer. But it will be wrong. If you don’t choose HRC or Trump then you’re not voting for a president. You’re sending a message. If you’re “brave” enough to send a message, you’ve done a little quick math and decided that risking Trump presidency won’t put you in danger. It’s worth it. The benefits outweigh the costs.

Underrepresented groups face the possibility of the crazy shit Trump clearly supports like deportation and imprisonment based on race, religion, country of origin… so… for them, sending a message instead of tipping the scale even the tiniest bit in their favor would be irrational and rare. Parents across the land are also too fearful of the risks to their children to try it.

But our privileged third party voters aren’t afraid. They’ll go for it. They’re not too worried about the rest of us.

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

- Pastor Martin Niemöller