When I first registered to vote at 17-years-old, I had to check a box on the sheet in front of me. Democrat, Republican, or Independent. This choice is easy for some die-hards who know exactly what their opinions are on all issues, but not for people like me. I am probably the most complicated, indecisive person ever. However, I have lots of opinions. About just about everything. I'm obsessed with learning and growing and knowing what's going on in the world. If I find something I don't have an opinion about, I will research it until I do. That being said, I can't seem to find a trend or pattern in my opinions on various topics. I am not totally old fashioned and conservative, nor am I completely modern and liberal. I'm in complete support of gay marriage, but I also believe in small government. And I don't understand why we view those two random ideas as mutually exclusive. Why is one idea Republican and the other Democrat? What does my support of a flat tax rate have to do with my views on healthcare or immigration?
Splitting Americans into two parties, Republican and Democrat, is hugely oversimplifying the complex concept of politics in this country. It pits people against each other. I think everyone I know, whether they identify as Republican or Democrat, can name at least one idea associated with their party that they completely disagree with. Back two years ago when I registered to vote, I ended up checking the "Republican" box, because my ideas about the government and economy more closely align with that party, but I didn't feel great about it. Almost all of my ideas about social values are liberal.
If it was an option, I would absolutely have registered as a member of the Libertarian party. But that's not an option, because the Libertarian party is a third party. It's not considered one of the two most popular parties, and so I can't register for it, I can't attend a caucus or see my candidates covered on the news, and unfortunately, although I can vote for my party's candidate will, as many say, be 'thrown away' because a third party candidate has never won, or even come close to winning, the presidential election in recent history.
But often I wonder-what if enough of us threw away our votes? Especially in an election like this year's, where the two main candidates are so adamantly hated by so many, now is a great time to vote for someone else. Because even if our candidate doesn't win, our vote sends a message. It makes a statement. At least I can confidently say that I didn't throw away my first ever presidential election vote because I voted for someone who I genuinely wanted to be president and not the lesser of two evils.
If you're like me and have no desire to Make American Great Again or Netflix and Hill, please research your third party candidates and vote accordingly. As a Libertarian myself, I'm obviously going to encourage you to do your research on Gary Johnson and see if he's the right candidate for you, but there's also a Green Party, a Constitution Party, even an Abolition Party in existence, and they could be the best thing for us in this strange election.
Let's demolish the two party system.
#Johnson2016
