I won’t be voting for Ron Paul next year, but that’s only because I won’t be voting for anyone. Despite the fact that I don’t want to give my sanction to a system I feel is illegitimate, my sympathies are with Ron Paul and his supporters. If he were to do well, I’d be happy. If he were to win, I’d be giddy. What’s the source of this apparent contradiction?
For me, it’s a matter of being consistent with principle rather than pragmatism. I’m not going to criticize others who come to different conclusions, but I can’t give my stamp of approval to the majoritarian system by participating in it. When someone votes, he tacitly acknowledges that the winner of the election has the right to govern (or do whatever the rules ahead of time stipulate). I can’t agree to that.