Posted: 10/3/2012 9:40:57 PM EDT
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Some people here don't understand how their vote for a third party helps Obama, so here it is, all explained nice and easy-like. This post has been approved by 87 economists, so you know it's true.
Let's say you go to the polls to vote for Johnson. At the time you vote, the votes are thus: Obama - 999 Romney - 999 Johnson - 9 You can vote for Obama: Obama - 1000(1 ahead of Romney) Romney - 999(1 behind Obama) Johnson - 9 You can vote for Romney: Obama - 999(1 behind Romney) Romney - 1000(1 behind Obama) Johnson - 9 You can vote for Johnson: Obama - 999(tied) Romney - 999(tied) Johnson - 10. Now, if we actually look at these numbers, you voting for Romney as opposed to voting for Obama makes 2 points difference. It puts Romney up by 1, instead of Obama up by one. Without a third party, that is the standard to look at. Voting for Romney actually gives Romney 2 points(1 vote for Romney and 1 vote not for Obama). However, if you vote for a 3rd candidate, things change. You are now giving 1 vote to Johnson, and 1 vote not for Obama. Face it, Johnson isn't going to get elected. So, you can vote 1 point for Team Anybody-But-Obama by voting for Johnson(by giving 1 vote to Not-Obama), or you can vote 2 points for Team Anybody-But-Obama by voting for Romney (by giving 1 vote to Not-Obama, plus 1 vote to Romney). Essentially, a vote for Johnson is equivalent to half a vote for Obama. Can you really stomach giving half your vote to Obama? ETA: This is looking at numbers from an economist's viewpoint. Opportunity cost matters. |