Reply #49: I think you are correct

[Samantha]

Despite the repeated calls here for the sake of party unity, one should vote for the nominee regardless of who that is, one should NEVER vote against one's best interests. In days of old when civics classes were taught, the act of not voting, abstaining, was taught as a right one can exercise as a protest. Today's horserace politicians never review that as a Constitutional right, the act of abstaining, but instead attempt to lay a guilt trip on a voter who sees no clear reason to support the party candidate. Because so many people are brainwashed into voting for the party candidate regardless of who that might be, year after year we see the party elite make that decision for us, knowing that the masses will fall in line when it's time to step up. Rather than blame the voter for abstaining, look at the party elite who repeatedly give us the Establishment's choice. That pattern is the reason so many say today there's very little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. Often that's very true. It happens because the base allows it to happen. The solution is simply do not vote against your best interests. If the chosen one has positions with which you disagree, abstain. When you are criticized for not being a "team player" throw the blame back at the Establishment which only presented you with unacceptable choices.

As long as you continue to exercise your Independent Thinking on who does and who does not deserve your vote, you cannot go wrong.