Changing my mind: Capuano

[in_parentheses]

You know what? I'm changing my mind. When I get home tonight, I'm voting for Capuano. I thought more about experience vs. ideals, and proven record vs. nebulous "hope." Some of my friends made good points -- like martini_corona's that Khazei should start smaller if he really wants to get into elected office.

And then I read this story, which sealed the deal

Comments

[cos]

Sometimes it is worth voting for someone who has no chance to boost their percentage, but the main reason to vote is to elect someone, not to voice an opinion. Given the flaws of our current voting system, if you're faced with a 3+ candidate race where someone you don't like has a good chance of winning and there are 2 or more candidates you like better, trying to guess which one of those has the best chance and choosing to vote for them is undoubtedly the best strategy. Doing otherwise means you care more about voicing your opinion than about who gets elected - but there are so many other ways to voice an opinion, and only one way to decide who gets to hold public office. You're right, it is unfortunate, and yes, we very much need a better voting system.

The people who made a last minute attempt to collect signatures to get IRV on the ballot in 2010, and aborted when they realized they wouldn't get close to the required number, are regrouping to organize a longer signature campaign to get it on the ballot for 2012. Keep an eye out, when when you see that campaign starting up, please contact them and ask to volunteer!

[in_parentheses]

I totally agree. The difference is that I'm actually fine with Coakley. I like Capuano better (and as I realized how much better, I decided to vote for him for the reasons above), but the scenario "someone [I] don't like has a good chance of winning" didn't actually apply here.

This wasn't, in other words, Bush vs. Gore vs. Nader.