I am an avid Bernie Sanders supporter. This is a fact you could deduce from simply spending five minutes on any social media platform of mine. When the Vermont senator came to UF in March, my friend and I were in line to see him speak before his motorcade was even in town. With the Democratic nomination getting closer and closer each day, we’ve seen a rise in niche-voter movements like the #BernieOrBust ideology. My response to this movement is simple: If you’re feeling the Bern, it’s probably not in your best interest to bust.
For those of you who don’t already know, the #BernieOrBust movement is a collection of voters who will exclusively vote for Bernie Sanders in the general election. Meaning, if (read: when) Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, they will simply not vote in the general election.
This is a foolish mistake on their part. Sure, I fully recognize that Clinton is as authentic of a human being as Panda Express is authentic Chinese food. Sure, she’s faker than that girl you met at Midtown and more full of shit than your ex. She will say anything to get elected, has no regard for anything that does not advance her campaign and is a power hungry establishment candidate. However, Republicans win because liberal voter turnout is noticeably lower. Moreover, Democrats cannot afford to lose this election to Donald Fucking Trump. So, for the love of God, go out and vote for the lesser of two evils.
But for those of you who can’t swallow your pride and vote for a candidate you do not actively want to see elected, a sincere kudos. I honestly respect your commitment to your principles. But ask yourself, is it worth it? Also be warned, people are going to remind you of that stupid argument that when you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain.
It’s a fundamentally wrong argument. Note that your vote only really matters if you live in a swing state, which is cool for those of us in Florida, and my family in Ohio, but pretty unfortunate for the remaining 48 states. Otherwise, you’re out of luck: The leadership of your state has already decided if you’re red or blue this November, and your vote makes little to no difference whatsoever in the grander election scheme.
Moreover, that analogy implies the only way for your voice to be considered is if you vote. The reality is, by virtue of being a citizen legally established in this country, you are allowed to complain even if you do not vote. If your moral inclinations make you hesitant to vote for two shitty candidates, you’re probably doing us all a favor by not voting. As political philosopher Jason Brennan wrote, the argument made by people who defend that erroneous claim is equivalent of saying “I ran into someone this morning who complained about how poor he is. I told him, ‘If you’re not playing the lottery everyday, you forfeit your right to complain about being poor.’ The problem with poor people is that they don’t buy enough Powerball tickets.”
So I say this to my fellow Bernie Bros who are choosing not to vote for Hillary in November, assuming she wins the nomination (it’s not really decided yet): you don’t have to. You’re absolutely right in choosing not to vote for her. People will tell you that you forfeit the right to complain when she or Don inevitably does something bad to this nation, and that’s total crap. However, also know this election has too much at stake, and a Trump Presidency is worse, and far more likely to happen if you choose to stay home.
Zachary Lee is a UF philosophy junior. His column appears on Tuesdays.
