"Liberty not only means that the individual has both the opportunity and the burden of choice; it also means that he must bear the consequences of his actions and will receive praise or blame for them. Liberty and responsibility are inseparable." - F.A. Hayek
The nature of our largely two-party system ensures that any problems that arise will invariably be blamed on the voters of the opposing party. Like heat consistently applied to water in a pan, the solution will heat up and eventually come to a boil as those water molecules crash and rage into each other if cooler water is not added to the mix in due time.
The Pew Research Center put out a wonderful report that describes in excruciating detail the breakdown and division in American society as it relates to the two-party system that's worth reading. When confronted with this reality, assuming the existence of other options on the ballot, we must ask ourselves what actually prevents us, both as individuals and as a group, from voting for a third-party option, particularly in the Washington State primaries.
Assuming the Democratic candidate is a shoe-in for the general election by low-information, party line voters, our top-two primary system gives you, the high-information voter, a powerful tool to wield in favor of more liberty and a chance to break the back of the system that we all love to hate.
Libertarianism is, itself, on the rise throughout the world. The recent victory of Javier Milei as Argentina's (and the world's) first libertarian president has brought the libertarian platform and ideas to everyone with an internet connection. In the US, libertarian social media personalities like Spike Cohen, Dave Smith, Scott Horton, Reed Coverdale, Hannah Cox, and Clint Russell, as well as former politicians like Justin Amash, Ron Paul, and Gary Johnson have soared in popularity. There are also over 300 libertarians currently serving in office throughout the US. And finally, there was the recent hilarious confession by World Economic Forum founder, Klaus Schwab, in Davos where he inadvertently said that he fears Libertarianism because it aims to tear down his vision of government influence in all areas of our private lives. With that in mind, it's not hard to see why the platform is gaining traction among all who want to exit the system of government surveillance, central banks, constant overseas wars, and the nanny state.
So I ask again, what's stopping you?
Let's look at some common excuses given that the two-party system and their lapdogs have drilled into your brain to prevent you from toppling their system:
1. "A third party candidate can never win."
Response: They can if you vote for them! Refuse to allow yourself to give in to defeatism. Besides, I'm just asking for your vote in the primary. Get me to the debate stage! The worst that can happen is you'll end up with a Democrat and a Republican in the general election again and you can cast your vote for the "lesser of two evils" then.
2. "My vote doesn't matter. I'm going to sit this election out in protest."
Response: Someone is going to win, regardless. Why not use your vote towards a candidate that wants to upset the status quo and get us closer to true liberty? How good would that feel knowing you helped contribute toward that! Besides, I'm just asking for your vote in the primary. If you want to protest by not voting, do that in the general election!
3. "A vote for a third-party candidate is just a vote for (insert Democratic or Republican candidate name here) ."
Response: Our state's top-two primary means two WILL move on to the general and if you DON'T vote for me, it's a near certainty that the two candidates this year will be a Democrat and a Republican. All I am asking for is your vote in the primary.
There are probably more, but you get the point. So with that in mind, let's look at some affirmative reasons to vote third-party in the primary this election:
1. You're sick of the system and want to voice your protest.
2. You believe the three branches of our government should have checks and balances embedded into them, and putting someone in the executive branch who acts as a filter on the legislative and judicial branches is a good way to achieve that.
3. You want the satisfaction of voting for someone who earned your vote.
4. You think the Libertarian platform has merit and want to support its growth and evolution here at home.
5. You're tired of the back and forth of the two-party pendulum and know that the Libertarian Party is the only one with a shot at stopping it.
6. You've seen both conservatives and liberals break their campaign promises and continue the same wasteful and divisive programs that they always have and you want change.
Whatever your reason, I look forward to your vote. Help spread the word and let's make history here in Washington State!