September 20, 2007
by Clay Barham

Whom will I vote for and why?  First, I must consider whether the ones asking for my vote, and their party, like my views and me.  I do not want to vote for anyone who dislikes my views or me.  Then, I must carefully review my interests as well as the interests of those seeking my vote.  I must find out if we agree, at least on the more important issues.  You could say it is like joining a crusading army.  Can I believe in the battle and the end-result as other members believe?  If society is to stay the way it is or be remodeled, do I want that result.

Three kinds of people make up political parties. First are a small number of elite who believe they are so great and majestic that everyone else is pond scum.  They want votes, from obvious pond scum, so they can remodel society to suit two classes, elite and their serving pond scum. The second are the many who follow those elite, the serving pond scum; because they believe, the elite will help them and protect them from having to endure injured pride when confronting self-sufficient people.  They will all vote for the elite, including other elite, who also expect to rule the serving pond scum and eliminate the self-sufficient.

A third group, the self-sufficient, is capable, self-directed, stand-on-their-own-two-feet kinds of people, who respect others and expect everyone else to do the same. They are not looking for directions from the elite or opposition from pond scum.  They want my vote to stop elites from meddling in behalf of their interests and that of the pond scum. They want to prosper and believe everyone else also wants to prosper, and should be allowed to do so. They know prosperity does not come from a barrel of a gun, a bureaucrat, the elite or the pond scum.

If I see myself as elite, I will vote for other elites.  If I see myself as pond scum, I will also vote for elites. If I am self-sufficient, I will vote for others, like myself, who do not intend to remake society in their own image and views.  Only in America has it been possible for self-styled elite, non-elite, pond scum, non-pond scum, self-sufficient free men and women, to thrive well together, because none of us controls others, except by the unseen hand provided by a free market.  The result is unique and unknown in the Old World, which seeks to crush the New World, America, because elite are not in control.

The major politicians work hard to gain our votes.  They are elite who promise to remodel society and punish the self-sufficient on behalf of the less inclined, less fortunate and the unwilling pond scum.  They assume that is what most of us want.  They will rule us just as elites before them have ruled.  Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Hussein and all the earlier elite, were also smarter than the rest of us.  They too cared more about how we live, and they reshaped the world whether their people liked it or not.

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To help me in deciding whom I will give my vote and support, I have to look at what we have in America now, what we should have and what the results should really be.  If I believe people should be free to make their own way, so long as they do not block yours or mine, then I will vote for those who promise to keep it that way.  If I believe your success robs me of mine, then I will vote for those who promise to punish you for being better than I am, offending my pride, making me envious and angry.  Should I believe only government elite should manage society and everyone should serve government, and its wishes, then I will vote for those who promise to make government boss.

If all I want to do is make sure I have mine, all that I want, and screw everyone else, I will have to vote for those who promise to be my ally in serving my needs and screwing others.  For example, if I belong to organized crime, say, the Mafia, I will have to vote for someone coming from organized crime that will make my life easier.  If there were no laws superior to the will and wishes of elected leaders, this would be fine.  In America are laws to block such people, unless courts throw in with them and reinterpret the law to favor them.

Voting is not very easy.  Voting makes me think about all the ways my vote affects my world.  It means I will have to sit down, study, contemplate and really consider all the options.  Of course, I can take the easy way, just forget the whole thing and not vote.  For some, that might be the best.  For America, that might be best.  If I do not know and am not willing to find out, it would be best I stay out.

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Clay Barham [send him email] has been a candidate for the California legislature and a stand-in talk show host for ABC.  He was educated in physical and behavioral sciences, with a Ph.D. in sociology.  He is the author of five books, with his latest being Foundations of Modern American Conservatism and Liberalism: The Roots of Freedom and Tyranny.  Visit his website at http://www.claysamerica.com.