Why YOU Should Vote ‘Uncommitted’ on the Democratic Primary Ballot?

It takes a quick online search for “Uncommitted voters 2024”, to finds reports from CNN, Reuters, Huffington Post, Detroit Free Press, to name a few news outlets, and realize that enough voters across the country are serious about voting “Uncommitted” on the Democratic presidential primary ballot by way of protest that it is making headlines. Michigan, as a critical swing state, takes center stage for the “Uncommitted” vote, where Primary election date for both parties is February 27th, while early voting stations started February 17th.

Troy’s Early Voting Center:

Troy Community Center (3179 Livernois Rd),

Rooms 302, 304, & 305.

Feb 17-25, 8:30am-4:30pm. (Except, on Thursday, Feb 22, it’s noon till 8pm.)

My search into the topic began after listening to concerned Troy residents trying to educate voters, that they have the power to show our political parties that we refuse to be pawns in their hands and unless they listen to us, their political punditry may not be of use to them in November. For more information, check ‘Listen to Michigan’ site: www.listentomichigan.com.

The critical nature of Michigan in the presidential elections and the narrow vote count by which previous candidates have won Michigan, gives “Uncommitted” voters our power. An “Uncommitted” vote will take some delegates away from the President in addition to allowing us time to do a ‘performance review’ of how things unfold till November to decide how to caste our vote.

Here are three reasons why I think everyone should vote “Uncommitted” on Democratic ballot:

#1—The first and paramount reason to vote “Uncommitted” is to let President Biden know he does not have voter support if he continues to fund the massacre in Gaza with our tax money and supply of bombs. He has the power to demand a ceasefire, and he must.

On a related tangent, in a recent Troy City Council meeting I attended, a resident brought up serious concerns regarding the state of homelessness in metro Detroit, including the city of Troy. Consider this against the fact that our federal government gives billions of dollars to Israel every year – a state whose residents enjoy both, free healthcare and free college.

Many Troy residents are repeatedly voicing their concerns to local, state, and federal representatives that they feel their lives do not matter, given that our politicians are siding with clear human rights violations in Gaza, acting more like a mafia than a civilized government.

Troy residents of various faiths and ethnicities have joined voices in calling President Biden out for his complicity in what is now generally called a genocide, especially after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that South Africa has a plausible case of genocide against Israel and the case will be heard. The ICJ also ruled that Israel must desist from all actions of genocide, but of course there is no one to enforce that. [United Nation’s YouTube channel has both recordings.]

Since October 7th, close to 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, HALF OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN. The bombing has been incessant, targeting civilian infrastructure, schools, colleges, mosques, churches, hospitals, journalists, medical workers, refugee camps, UN workers, and ambulances. Sniper attacks target anyone who moves, including women and children trying to fetch water. As if bombing which has broken all records of destruction in recent history was not enough, the humanitarian aid is also being barricaded from entering Gaza to support what life is left of the many-times displaced civilians who are virtually caged into a corner with no access to food, water, medication, fuel, clothing, shelter etc. People are living in makeshift tents, consuming animal feed and grass to stay alive. Children have died of starvation.

All this destruction is being attributed to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th which resulted in 1,200 deaths including civilians and soldiers, and 240 hostages taken including civilians and soldiers to use in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. For the Palestinians, however, the conflict started over 75 years ago after Israeli militia forcibly pushed 750,000 of them from their towns and villages, creating fear by murdering hundreds, condemning the rest to the narrow strip of land called Gaza where they have been periodically bombed to thin out their population in an activity Israel calls "mowing the law". Those in the West Bank live in an apartheid state facing routine humiliation and violence at the hands of illegal Israeli settlers who enjoy immunity from their crimes and all other privileges in how they live. About 5,000 Palestinian men, women, and children languish in Israeli prisons without due process.

I condemn any attack on civilian population by any entity, however, cannot wrap my head around the inhumanity of those who condemn Hamas’s October 7th attack but justify or remain quiet regarding the barbaric deaths of 25 times that number of people, half of whom are children, in Gaza!

Vote “Uncommitted” in the Democratic primary to stop the carnage of human life!

#2—The second reason to vote “Uncommitted” is to let the Democratic party know they will be committing political suicide in November if they keep a president with above mentioned record on their ballot. The coalition that helped Biden win 2020 is now fractured, frayed, and thoroughly disillusioned. The Democratic party may see upsets in November not just in Michigan but in other states as well if President Biden remains on the ballot.

According to December 05, 2023, report from Data For Progress "61% of likely voters, including a majority of Democrats (76%) and Independents (57%) and a plurality of Republicans (49%), support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza."

I held my nose in 2020 and voted for current president but picking ‘the lesser evils’ is no longer an argument for me in 2024 as I don’t consider this president’s actions as ‘lesser evil’ any longer.

Young voters especially are affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for urgent resolution since they are more likely to watch firsthand reports and images from the ground rather than propagandized news from mainstream media outlets.

#3—The third reason for any democrat who wants to see their party win the 2024 presidential bid is that an “Uncommitted” vote will give the Democratic party a face-saving excuse to replace a president who clearly does not appear to be physically or mentally fit to hold this office for another term. The President’s on-air statements have shown time and again that his memory and mental fitness appear to be declining where he seems to be confusing the living with the dead and the old with the current world leaders.

In an investigation into confidential documents found in his home from his time as Vice President, the President could not remember the year he was vice president or the year his son Beau died even within a several-year range. A latest poll from NBC news shows 76% of Americans are concerned about the president’s mental health.

“President Joe Biden’s annual doctor’s physical is coming up soon, but it won’t include a cognitive test for the 81-year-old democrat seeking a second term,” reported John Luciew of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on February 13th.

This is nothing but burying-one's-head-in-the-sand strategy on part of the Democratic party. How will the voters react to this President’s face off with his opponent in a few months’ time? It’s better to decide now than attempt damage control when it’s too late. Not that the former president scores high on comprehensive speech, but all that will pale in comparison to someone with, what to an onlooker, appears to be the onset of dementia.

In short, whether we want to save humanity or the Democratic party, voting “Uncommitted” in Michigan Democratic Primary is the prudent choice. Even for those who normally vote as Republican/Independent but want to save humanity or have a better choice if it turns out to be from the other party, I've read that voting on Democratic ballot in Michigan primaries does not mean you’ll have to stick to this party in November. But if considering, please confirm on your own.