Why I Plan to Vote for Chris Daggett for NJ Governor

Let me begin by saying that I very rarely make public any voting choices that I make, especially in advance. And, generally speaking, I vote for the candidate that most closely reflects my principles (what are those? -see this post from a year ago on Principled Independent Patriots, or PIPs).

I’m going to make an exception this time.

There’s something I’m going to vote against, and it’s not a person. It’s a dysfunctional and broken political system in New Jersey, dominated by two parties who seem utterly unable to govern effectively. Like the Newark Star-Ledger – and for similar reasons as that newspaper expressed in this editorial – I plan to repudiate both major candidates/parties and vote for the independent, Chris Daggett.

And, for me, it’s a matter of one principle overriding a whole other set of other principles.

You see, I don’t agree with a fair number of Mr. Daggett’s positions. I would be considered far more “conservative” than he is in a lot of areas, and it is very rare that I will vote for anyone who is out of alignment with those principles.

But this state needs intelligent, bold leadership that is not part of the problem. And the parties ARE the problem here. I would like to use my vote to give a loud Bronx cheer to both major parties in NJ. And to say YES to independent candidacy. Especially when that candidate can best the favored sons of both parties in an open debate.

Even more – I believe that the future of this country rests on the repudiation of this out-of-touch 2-party system on a national scale. We need independent candidates.  More specifically, we need High-P-value Confident Americans (what is that? -stay tuned to Steve’s Leaves. Much longer writing on its way!) We need to break the stranglehold of self-interested partisan drones who have no interest in governing wisely. And so, even if I wouldn’t align with Mr. Daggett on a number of specific issues, I DO align with one overriding principle – we need to throw the bums out and start electing people who will govern for the people. That statement needs to be made. Now.

If Mr. Daggett can make a good showing here in NJ – and maybe even send both Democratic and Republican parties packing – it will be an important symbolic and practical victory in and of itself.

So, I’m going to go to the trouble of searching for and finding the Daggett/Esposito spot on the ballet (it actually will take a few seconds of effort – they don’t make it easy here!) and voting for the hope that New Jersey can halt its slide by repudiating the rusting, hulking machine in Trenton that has R painted on one side, D painted on the other, and I (and u) nowhere in sight.

Yes, I’ve always been a bit of an independent cuss. And after 25 years in this state, I’ve had my fill. As individual citizens – not party-voting drones – let’s throw the bums out and give Chris Daggett a message, and a mandate, to change the mess in Trenton!

(for you on-line types, Chris Daggett’s web presence with all the social media links is here)

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