If there is one thing I absolutely adore about being an ex-pat, it’s that I get to do absentee voting. That means I get a paper ballot mailed to me in advance of election day, and have the luxury of being able to take all those names and research them. Of course, that means I still find little I like, but at least I can have a much better idea of what I am or am not voting for.

And, because I am that rare informed voter, I tend to stand in bemusement while someone tells me I’m stupid, or obviously being informed by memes because I don’t agree with them. In one of the few Facebook groups I’m a member of, I had someone tell me just this for stating that Ron Paul has isolationist policies. Apparently, Wikipedia and one of his fan sites are making stuff up for pointing out that he would pull out of all the international trade agreements and replace them with… well, I’m still waiting to see that. But lo, as it’s not on his campaign website, it’s oooobviously made up.

Of course, I’m also insane for thinking that it was not cool of him to sign Personhood USA, nevermind that he has previously stated that he would leave any relevant legislation to the state level if he were elected President… does not jive, yo.

And in case anyone thinks I’m just picking on Ron Paul, I’m merely making these few points because, for a bit, he was my most liked candidate. I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama again; his support of the TSA sexually assaulting people really burned my biscuits, and further eroding civil liberties with his support of the NDAA have less than impressed me. Nor could I vote for any of the other Republican candidates – they’re all flat-out insane. Add in the fact I am -not- a single-issue voter, and I’m not sure that any of them could ever in a million years appeal.

So then, back to me flaunting my paper ballot. If any third party candidates actually make the ballot, I’ll have time to see if they’re also whack-jobs, or if any are viable. I’ve voted third party before, and even if it won’t win someone the White House, it’s better than voting for the lesser of two evils. Or, worst comes to worst, I can defiantly mark my none of the above and spoil my ballot paper – it might not count for anyone, but at least I get to know that I said what I thought, and that I thought nothing was worthy of my vote.

We’ll see how it goes. But from where I’m sitting right now, I’m not exactly filled with hope.