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None of the Above: Why 2008 is the Year to Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote

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The title of Joseph Farah's None of the Above, Why 2008 is the Year to Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote, sums up my own feelings about the direction of our government and the upcoming election. Like many, I've been unhappy with the choices offered to us voters in the past. I've done the "plug my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils" ballot. In the primary here in California this spring, the field was pretty limited by the time the elections arrived. My original choice was, of course, long gone. For the first time, in over 30 years of voting, I found myself with nobody to support in the primary. However, I had such an aversion to the frontrunner I found myself voting for a candidate I actively disliked, disapproved of and would have never voted for in the general election. I regretted it as soon as I finished casting the ballot. I've always, and I mean always, taken voting very seriously; read up on the candidates, and supported who I felt the best person for the job would be. I promised myself that I'd never vote for someone again, unless I believed they were the best we had to offer.

Farah's book caught my eye with the title; since that's just the way I've been feeling about the upcoming election. The book addresses the authors' belief that now is the time for radical and revolutionary thinking. That when we chose "the lesser of two evils", this means that we are still participating in something "evil". Farah reminds us that we won't get the Constitutional government our founding fathers fought for, if we don't demand it. The Constitution of our country is an amazing document, but we've allowed all three branches of government to gut it and render it irrelevant. Patrick Henry said, "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." This document was to limit the power that government had over our lives, not allow it to be our nanny. We were to be self-governing, and yet we've allowed ourselves to be convinced that all our dreams can come true if we put our faith in our leaders. As Farah says, "dependency of government is the opposite of freedom and responsibility. In the long term, it means tyranny and slavery."

None of the Above makes compelling arguments, which any American can readily understand. The authors love of this country and the freedoms enumerated in the Constitution are obviously of the utmost importance to him. Farah also is a Christian, and his faith is an integral part of his thesis. He uses Biblical reference throughout and refers often to his own beliefs. This type of theologically driven ideology may detract from his thesis in the minds of some readers. It might be easier for a reader who has a different or no religious background to discount the book as a whole, instead of realizing that the ideas contained within the book are relevant to all Americans, religious or not. I don't necessarily agree with all of Farah's idea, I find I have a more of a Libertarian perspective on many social issues. However when it comes to protecting the Constitution, I'm with him 100%. We have to stop taking it for granted.

Joseph Farah's book reminds us that, "The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure." (Albert Einstein)

I have voted in every election since I turned 18 in the 70's. As a patriotic American I consider voting to be both an honor and an obligation, but it's hard to get past the awful choices being presented to us this year.

Obama? McCain? Edwards? Clinton? On what planet are these the best candidates we can find in a time of such great danger to this country? Surely we can do better. And that's Joseph Farah's point. It's time for those of us who care about the United States to withdraw from this insanity, and to let the horrors of a McCain or Obama presidency run their course. Perhaps then more millions of us will come to our senses and demand something better.

In "None of the Above," Joseph Farah presents a compelling case for sitting this one out. "Want change? Don't vote!" may be a tagline that goes against the grain for many of us, but the alternatives being offered by the two major parties are just too dismal to contemplate and should no longer be tolerated.

Author Farah makes an interesting, if not quite compelling, case for withholding your vote this Nov. His premise harkens back to George Wallace, who declared that neither party was worth voting for because "There ain't a nickel's worth of difference between 'em."

Farah sees Obama as a lightweight with radical ties and tendencies and McCain as a closet Democrat who is just Obama light. His criticism of the candidates is the most thoughtful (and frightening) portion of the book.

Readers could use a bit more background rationale. Get rid of the income tax? Fine. But what are the legitimate functions of government and how do we pay for them? Send the major parties a message by not voting for their candidates? Well and good. But we get back to the question posed by Admiral Yamamoto when asked if he could raid Pearl Harbor: "Yes. But what then?"

Whether you agree with him or not, Farah's book is well worth reading to push your thought process along. Its conversational tone makes this well-sourced volume fun to read.

"None of the Above: Why 2008 Is the Year to Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote" comes at voting readers with a powerful political message - that sometimes the best choice is to not make one. Saying that rejecting the two party system will further American civil rights, help purge corruption, and other benefits, that a revolt of this magnitude is needed to put America on the right track, not a Democrat or Republican in the White House. "None of the Above" offers a new and fresh message, food for thought for anyone who is sure of who they are going to vote for in November.

The Author gives a good reading as to why, for conservatives, neither candidate is worthy of our votes. We need a Jimmy Carter i.e. a disgrace in this case Obama before we can get a new Reagan. McCain despite the fact that he is a hero and a patriot is not the man either. McCain holds to far too many neocon positions and he can not be trusted to appoint good judges. He did vote to confirm Ruth Ginsburg the head of the ACLU to the bar back in the 90's. This is the year to vote third party.

I recommend this book to anyone who intends to vote 2008. I'd say it's about time we practice NOTA and get it recognized as a legitimate vote.