Beware political parties. Too late. Beware geographical distinctions. Too late. Warnings, ideals, all ignored and here we are Americans left with the temperamental businessman, Donald Trump and the seasoned deceitful career politician, Hillary Clinton.

But to vote? It may seem like it is too late, but it is not.

Pundits, analyst, and politicians are notorious for believing in the "October Surprise." In 2012, it was Hurricane Sandy, in 1960 it was the first live telecast of the presidential debate. In 2016, let the "October Surprise" be the vote.

Close your eyes and travel in time 220 years ago. After the public encouraged him to run again, George Washington declined. He declined to prevent the rise of another king, to prevent the rise of another tyranny. Resigning after two-terms was a symbolic precedent to preserve the strengths the young United States was founded upon. Washington's farewell address was his vision for the future of the nation. Today, with Hillary Clinton on the left and Donald Trump on the right, it would not be alarming to find Washington rolling in his grave as the fate of the United States defies everything he and the founding fathers envisioned.

As Americans, we have succumbed to the will of the two-party system limiting ourselves to solely Democrats and Republicans. We cling to these titles religiously refusing to break, bend, or read between the lines. Washington stated, "They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests."

Bearing such a statement in mind, have we as Americans failed Washington? Yes, we have failed this principle as we cling to party loyalty over the ideas. Some ask, "Gary Johnson? Never heard of him so why does he even matter?" The same goes for Jill Stein. However, what people forget is that for these individuals to gain attention, the media, and the voter play a large role. If enough people rally around a third-party candidate then they will get air time. They will get the vote. Others claim, "A vote for the third-party candidate is just a vote for Clinton" (or Trump depending on their views); however this is not the case. A vote for a third party candidate is solely a vote for that candidate. Doing so is a vote taken away from Hillary and Trump respectively giving status to a rising candidate.

For those skeptics who believe a third party victory is unprecedented, Abraham Lincoln himself was a third party candidate of the emerging Republican Party in the 19^th Century. So what more perfect of a time to give attention to a new candidate whether that be of the Green Party, Libertarian, etc as Clinton and Trump can barely hold above a 40 percent approval rating from the general public.

What a more perfect of a time to look at others who may be more representative of the community rather than a wealthy business man who lacks public speaking skills or a career politician without transparency?

Both candidates are busy mudslinging at one another to talk about real issues like student loan forgiveness, mental health, gun control, foreign policy. A debate is not a battle of insults but a battle of the issues, policies, and stature to lead the most powerful country in the world.

Both candidates are busy mudslinging at one another to talk about real issues like student loan forgiveness, mental health, gun control, foreign policy. For example, Trump stated during the debate, "My strongest asset is my temperament. She does not have a temperament." Donald Trump followed up his statement with a visible negative attitude. Hillary Clinton also stated, "Donald, I know you live in your own reality." Both candidates looked to make jabs at one another constantly. A debate is not a battle of insults but a battle of the issues, policies, and stature to lead the most powerful country in the world.

One alternative to voting the traditional Republican or Democratic is voting for Jill Stein, the Green Party nomination. According to the Green Party’s website their platform follows the following values:

For a millennial who values the environment and social progressivism, Stein is their candidate. The Green Party emphasizes the importance of the environment in their platform. The Green Party speaks to feminists as it strives to break the glass ceiling. For millennials emerging in and out of college, breaking the glass ceiling levels the playing in the work place allowing us opportunity with our peers. On the political spectrum, Stein tends to be central to far left and moderate. Ultimately, the Green Party seems to have an eye looking into the future with a clean environment and a need for social justice.

While the Green Party offers the social aspect of political issues, Libertarians like Gary Johnson balance the ideals of the Democratic left and the Republican right overall making the platform well-rounded in nature to embody the spirits of all American values.

For the millennial, the Libertarian platform promotes social equality through supporting LGBT+ rights and awareness, limiting corporate power, and preventing the infringement of civil liberties like the right to privacy. Libertarians also embody the civil liberties to bear arms, free enterprise, and promote a strong defense.

We are the generation of change. If you do not agree with the two major candidates, consider all the other alternatives. One may be surprised. We are the force that influenced change in the political arena in 2008 with election of Barack Obama. We are the instrumental force in marriage and social justice. Where has that spirit gone? Has it died? We are left in a continuum two parties with two mundane figure heads as our options. The time is now to inspire change - break the system, sustain America, and move forward.