Korten writes: "Think of your vote as an act of protest and vote for candidates who vow to change the system."

Vote. (photo: Theresa Thompson)

3 Ways to Make Your Vote Count in a Money-Soaked Election

By Fran Korten, Yes! Magazine

20 September 12

our favored candidates may be outspent, but if they out-organize, they may be able to prevail.

Recently, a respected friend sent me an outraged email. His subject line: "BOYCOTT VOTING!" He was at wit's end over the vast sums of money that wealthy individuals and corporations are pouring into our elections: $400 million from the Koch Brothers; $100 million from Sheldon Adelson. If big money is going to buy the election, he said, then he will "withdraw his consent" by not voting.

I, too, am apoplectic at the money flooding our elections. It speaks of a level of corruption that undermines my hopes for solving the big problems of our time. That's why I'm promoting the passage of a constitutional amendment to curtail unlimited election spending.

But is boycotting the vote the right response? Here's how I see it: the big money doesn't buy votes. It mostly buys television ads to influence our votes or discourage us from voting at all. So why would I fall into the trap of doing what the big money wants? As I wrote to my friend, after the election, no one will notice your boycott. They will only notice who won. Think of your vote as an act of protest and vote for candidates who vow to change the system. Here's what you can do:

1. Vote the Whole Ballot

Vote the whole ballot. When we reach the bottom of the ballot, many of us find a bunch of names and initiatives we don't know and skip them. Judicial positions are notorious for low vote tallies. So a few voters can determine who wins positions that can have a huge impact on our lives. I prepare by reading the voter pamphlet with care, especially watching for partisan buzzwords. Then I check with friends for additional information. I also sign up for emails from organizations that recommend candidates who match my values. So when I go to vote, I make my choices with confidence.

2. Contribute to Campaigns ...

Another conundrum in this money-soaked election season is whether to give money to candidates. Does our measly $25, $50, or even $500 mean anything when the 1 percent can so far outspend us? My husband is pretty cynical about political contributions. But do we want to force candidates to get their funds only from the wealthy? One candidate told me, "I need to raise at least one-fifth of what my deep-pocketed opponent raises. Otherwise, I'm just not a player." I like this candidate. I think she has smarts and integrity. She wants to overturn Citizens United and other laws that make campaigns so expensive. So I (yes, together with my husband) made a contribution to her campaign, as well as to several other candidates we believe in.

3. ... But Not Just Money

Fortunately, money is not the only way to influence an election. Giving time can be even more valuable. One respectful conversation with a potential voter can reverse the effects of thousands of dollars of ads. Going door to door, phoning, helping people get registered and to the polls can all make a difference. Your favored candidates may be outspent, but if they out-organize, they may be able to prevail. Organizing, of course, means getting people like you and me to volunteer.

It's easy to be discouraged about a political system that seems so out of reach. I take heart from history. In the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, income inequality was similar to today's. There was widespread political corruption. Then people rose up and ushered in the Progressive Era. They voted in candidates who instituted the estate tax and progressive income taxes, changed election laws, and made many other reforms.

By the 1950s through the 1970s we had an expanding middle class and a fairer election system. We can make those changes again. But only if we get engaged and informed, and vote.

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+1 # RICHARDKANEpa 2012-09-21 21:29

The layout of the original article is much better
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/its-your-body/is-your-vote-for-sale
Fran Korten your magazine elsewhere mentions voter initiatives. Marriage referendums encourage some voters to vote but something like the sugar tax on beverage would encourage democratic participation from those who usually consider themselves too poor to be invoked in politics, and those interested in ecology at the same time.

In Philadelphia ADA used to be very involved usually supporting Democrats but almost always suggested two Republicans for minority representative for city council and once supported Consumer candidate Max Wiener. Korten I think you should get together with your friends and resolve to no matter what vote for one Republican on the ballot somewhere, and let them come and suggest to your group which one it would be.

To me, Obama tends to be a wonderful man with mostly the wrong qualifications and Romney highly skilled with the wrong views especially on foreign policy. I want to Vote 3rd Party in all the none battle ground states. Because of war and peace issues vote Green or Libertarian in any state race where a major candidate is way ahead. Thank you Obama for now doing well enough against Romney that I can vote for the actual best candidate on the ballot,

-4 # RICHARDKANEpa 2012-09-21 21:42

Way back in 1965 I was thrilled to be driving a sound truck with a giggle for Bill Martin a Quaker Peace candidate that got some Veterans group support for being 100 percent for veteran's rights. In the last election pressed the big D icon than pulled back to vote for all the Republicans for row offices except Cheri Honkala for Green Sheriff,
http://www.youngphillypolitics.com/vote_cheri_honkala_321_last

-5 # Erdajean 2012-09-21 22:55

Well, to hear our "progressive" side tell it, MONEY is the ONLY thing that will make a shred of difference. There is no mention whatever of organization, field work, get-out-the-vot e efforts or the door-to-door stuff that DOES make a difference -- EVERY message we get is "THEY are OUTSPENDING US! DONATE DONATE DONATE! DEADLINE TODAY!"
The message is, Send every cent you have (to a jillion campaigns) or YOU will cause us to LOSE this election and rot in a Romney hell!"
Personally I am sick to death of this and bet I am not alone. The SHALLOWNESS with which these campaigns are being run does not for one minute give any confidence in those in the running. Nobody seems to want to do any actual work -- MONEY is indeed everything -- just like the GOP has contended all along.

0 # Tazio 2012-09-22 10:27

"There is no mention whatever of organization, field work, get-out-the-vot e efforts or the door-to-door stuff that DOES make a difference."

Nonsense!

I donated a few bucks to the Obama campaign and have been repeatedly invited to do field work, organizing, getting out the vote, etc.
Obama is not shallow, Romney is.
And that's why the President will be reelected and the Republicans will have to "re-brand" (not re-think) yet again.

+5 # Smokey 2012-09-22 05:27

It's always good to hear some references to the Progressive Era of the late 1800s and early 1900s.... It's a model for good political behavior, a source of inspiration, and an era worth studying.... There were lots and lots of radical and liberal groups during the Progressive Era. Some of them put their faith in elections and they pushed the conversation so far left that Teddy Roosevelt became a Progressive candidate... However, the IWW-types and others knew that the country needed more than an election in order to get on the right track.... Message? Remember to vote. And, then, keep pushing for change. The day after Obama gets reelected, I'll probably be signing a petition that will ask for more action on - immigration reform? energy policy? the tax code? (pick the cause.)

-4 # RICHARDKANEpa 2012-09-22 06:05

Smokey, You said remember to vote but left out remember to make sure you and the people you know can vote, since the new ID's laws get in the way.

There needs to be a new voting organization that wants to made sure the worse candidate doesn't win instead of the incompetent in the White House. It's a good thing Maddof's racket fell apart in October before Obama was in to arrange something other than 150 years in prison.

0 # HowardMH 2012-09-22 07:47

Until there are two hundred thousand really, really pissed off people on Capital Hill (all at the same time) raising some serious hell absolutely nothing is ever, ever going to happen to these totally bought and paid for by the richest 50 people in the world that are becoming more and more powerful with each passing rigged election thanks to the stupid people.

0 # Jaysson Brae 2012-09-22 09:45

Not enough voters have ever seemed to care that Big Money effectively buys-off our federal and state elections, and so the USA has become mostly a Plutocracy (rule by the rich.)

Once entrenched like they are now, Plutocrats and their puppets in government keep further rigging The System (which includes the mainstream news media) to make all reforms toward One Person/One Vote democracy virtually impossible.
The USA actually passed this point-of-no-ret urn long ago.

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