I wanted to write down some of my thoughts heading into this election day. I ‘support’ people voting third party, I understand those voting Trump (I think his policies & people are FAR superior to Harris’). I cannot ‘support’ those voting for Harris because she has been actively supporting Israel’s ongoing genocide for over a year.
As a reference I read through this Al Jazeera article on both candidates policies.
Third party votes
I want to get this out of the way first. Many people will try to convince you that a third party vote is a wasted vote. It absolutely is not. If that is how you feel you should vote then do it! In 2020, Libertarians were the margin in some states. In 2024, while Trump was working on his campaign, Libertarians got dedicated time resulting in the pledge to release Ross & increased protection/attention to Bitcoin as well as other commitments. If we blindly voted lock-step with Trump he NEVER would have sat down with us or came to the convention. Punishing the ‘main parties’ by voting for a 3rd party that better reflects your values is a viable way to force change.
Chase Oliver - Libertarian
Jill Stein - Green
Trump
I actually left the Republican party when they picked Trump over Rand Paul, not because of TDS but because a party that wouldn’t pick Rand Paul isn’t one that really aligns that well with my beliefs (I had in previous years written in Ron Paul anyway). 2016 candidate Trump at least had some good talking points though he largely failed to deliver on most things of interest (drain the swamp, gun rights etc). Perhaps the best impact he had is harder to quantify (the court appointees etc.). 2020 Trump felt useless and I think others felt the same way, i think his mishandling of COVID (including debt & money supply increase) sealed his fate.
2024 Trump similarly felt flat & uninteresting in my opinion. Yet now, heading into election day (perhaps facilitated by the attempt on his life), he has a group of people around him that have VERY appealing opinions on things. While I think RFK was far too much of a zionist to be a President, I really like him going after health issues. Vivek, who I actually switched back to Republican to vote for in the primary, is still very close to the campaign. He was one of the few to have an actual plan on reducing the size of government. Elon Musk has shown a good ‘anti-bureaucrat’ reflex and has been floating the idea of cutting trillions in government spending. He and the Great Ron Paul exchanged some very encouraging tweets on X.
I like what a lot of these people have said. I like what some of them stand for. Vivek was the only candidate that said we should end aid to Israel. He still saw them as a ‘strong ally’, but framed it as an ‘America first’ decision. I’m ok with that, not in the absolute sense, but from the reality of American politics sense.
Ron Paul, I can write unending praise for his takes over the years, staunch anti-war , anti-government hero in American politics. Him having the attention and the ear of Elon Musk is a boon to liberty.
Trump Policies Quick Review
War
Ending the Ukraine war is good. Israeli officials are apparently ‘concerned’ by Trump’s claim he would ‘bring a swift end’ to the Gaza war.
Border
Securing the border is a necessity for a variety of reasons. I believe Trump is more capable than Kamala, we have her years as border czar to show the result.
general scope of government
Reducing government size and scope is critically needed, we are on the brink of collapse.
Close the department of education
Voter ID for voting
provide immunity to cops from prosecution — this is a BIG no from me, we need more accountability not less, not likely ‘doable’ but a bad thought for a President to have
deport “pro-hamas radicals” a direct attack on the first amendment, would be more concerned if i thought there were a chance of it being enforceable, dumb-low-brain anti-liberty take though
Economics
Ending the income tax (though not committed to, it is great to hear even mentioned).
generally, cut taxes increase tariffs
I am in support of tariffs TO REPLACE income tax etc
A bitcoin reserve was mentioned by Trump, something I think that needs to be part of our policy, at least as a contingency plan.
pro nuclear energy
Freeing Ross Ulbricht is ‘low impact’ on the nation, but huge for Ross & a symbol for liberty.
Abortion
State level decisions
Harris
Let’s take a look at Kamala’s orbit. Liz Cheney, whose father (Dick Cheney) is so corrupt he got a section on my article ‘War is STILL a Racket’ . She praises and emulates the murderous, warmongering piece of garbage. I get it, its her dad, but ANYONE proud of those policies should be booed and ridiculed unendingly, not praised. “Screw your Freedoms” Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Kamala. She has the endorsement of a bunch of business people who i do not care about and who i think bring little to nothing (in terms of ideas) to the table. I honestly don’t see anyone in her ‘orbit’ of value or worth. No one I personally respect is supporting Harris (at least that I can think of).
Kamala Policies Quick Review
War
Continue funding Ukraine war, continue destroying America and leading us to WW3
no change on current Gaza policy, CONTINUED support for israel.
Border
no real plan, several years of ‘border czar’ were a complete failure
general scope of government
increasing size & scope of government
more gov’t regulations ‘ to fix housing’
No Voter ID for voting
ban assault weapons - a stance that should bar her from ANY political office as it is a direct attack on the Constitution
oppose school choice (more government)
end student loan debts (more government)
Economics
raise minimum wage (more government regulations)
more pro-union (i don’t know enough about the ‘PRO act’ to comment much here. generally i’m ok with unions, but not public unions (cops, teachers etc)
Abortion
Federally protected
Conclusion
There are a few things about Trump’s campaign that I really like. I like at least SOME of the people around him. I don’t like the anti liberty things, i don’t like less accountability for cops. I don’t like anti free-speech stance on college campuses. But overall Trump’s promises are MUCH better for liberty and overall they are better for the world. Our large federal government is a plague to MANY nations, reducing it must be a priority. Ending wars must be a priority.
Harris goes in the other direction promising a larger more powerful federal government with unending support for wars. That includes the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I don’t know if Trump will do ANYTHING different but I certainly wont vote for someone actively committing a genocide with the excuse that ‘maybe the other guy will too’.
I can find many reasons to vote for Trump & none to vote for Kamala. That said, I have the …fortune (?)… to live in a state that is ‘already decided’ . I currently plan to write in Thomas Massie due to Trumps ongoing support of Israel.
Were I in a swing state, I don’t think I would do the same. As mentioned, I can see plainly that Trump is better for Americans & I don’t want to enable someone ACTIVELY committing genocide to win. Though I know Trump may be just as bad, perhaps the best we can do is directly punish Kamala for her crimes.
My down ballot votes will be similar strategic moves to oust people working against America, even if the replacement also sucks.
Regardless of who is elected President, I pray that Liberty prevails & America wins this election.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I too am a Ron Paul supporter and come to similar conclusions about Trump. The biggest reason he got my vote is because the people I trust to root out some of the pathological ideas and institutional capture/corruption (Musk/RFK/Tulsi/Vance) are part of his transition team.