Chip Taylor

On the horns of a dilemma

Will Wilkinson, quoting Matthew Yglesias of all people, explains why I should continue my past policy and vote for the Libertarian Presidential candidate, Michael Badnarik.

I want Michael Freaking Badnarik. Or at least the tiny sick thrill, like throwing pebbles at the IRS, that voting for Badnarik will surely provide. I want the constitution class, damn it!

Under the circumstances, it's no wonder the GOP feels free to take the libertarian vote for granted -- it doesn't appear to exist. This may be because libertarians are, in fact, only a miniscule proportion of the population who just happen to be disproportionately represented in the Beltway policy community and the academy. Alternatively, it may be because the libertarian love of the cynical, anti-political pose prevents them from engaging in any sort of constructive political action. I continue to think that the best way for libertarians to advance the small-government cause over the long haul would be to try and convince the GOP leadership that the "miniscule proportion" theory is wrong by voting for Michael Badnarik. Thus, much as I would welcome a Stuart Benjamin vote for John Kerry, I think libertarians should pull the lever for the LP, the well-known problems with the LP and Barnarik notwithstanding. If Bush loses to Kerry and the LP gets a historically large share of the vote (not a hard hurdle to clear) then the GOP will hear the message that they need to pay more attention to the small government vote.

I don't think libertarian efforts will matter one damn bit. But, for heaven's sake, if you're going to vote throw your vote away!

But Megan McArdle provides an equally convincing explanation of why I shouldn't vote for Badnarik.

...because Mr Badnarik is a barking moonbat. He has, if memory serves, been arrested multiple times for driving without a license, because he views getting one as an unwarranted concession to The State. I believe he also has tax protester sympathies. I am not going to encourage the Libertarian Party to nominate more such by voting for this one.

My impact is likely to be nil in either case, but do I go for internal or external (to the LP) effects?

I know which way I'm leaning, but I need to think about it some more.

Not an option: voting for either major candidate.

UPDATE: Chris Lawrence is weighing options, too.

UPDATE: More food for thought.