One of the saddest things about this election season is seeing people react to the idea of having to choose between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. For many, both are intolerable choices to hold the position of the presidency.
Hillary Clinton represents the establishment, an old order that many young people are trying to desperately to escape. To many she has an insatiable appetite for power, willing to say anything and everything if it means that she will get more votes. She seems willing to take money from anywhere that will give it (even those who she claims to disagree with) and she seems willing to steal the ideas of her better counterparts to look more favorable.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump can represent a sense of hope for a lot of young Republicans who, like their Democratic peers, want an end to the old order that they believe to be destroying America. As a man who is outside of the system and outside of political influence, he appears to be much more sincere in his beliefs than his other Republican counterparts. Yet, he also represents the fringe of Republican beliefs in a lot of respects.
He was the main pusher of the "birther movement," a label that he still proudly accepts to this day. Trump wants to force Mexico to pay for a border wall, a premise that is so absurd that it made me laugh just writing it. Numerous people have cried out against what they believe is his sexism, his racism, his narcissism, and his overall dodgy behavior with questions. With these records, who can blame the younger generation for being so reluctant to vote in the upcoming election? While Ted Cruz is also doing well in the polls, Cruz is somehow almost more terrifying of a prospect than Trump for the presidency.
However, the real question arises. Why do these young, new voters believe that they have no other choices? The reason is simple, they have been told for all their lives, from history professors, from their parents, and from every politician under the sun, that third parties simply do not win elections.
It is in response to this mentality that I want to talk to the young voters who may read this article. The integrity of this nation is at stake every time that this country has an election, it seems. The establishments of the DNC and RNC choose candidates that the majority of Americans despise and we're expected to choose between the lesser of the two evils in every election.
It's as though my vote has changed from active participation in the election of my government to a defense against the threats posed by both major parties. Why should we stand by and let them threaten to ruin our country by putting candidates that no one likes over candidates like Bernie Sanders or Rand Paul, both of whom are more favorable than the other candidates to many Americans?
By voting for the lesser of two evils, you're still voting for evil. That vote that you will cast in November will be towards the destruction of your country. Sure, you may be voting for the evil that will cause that destruction at a slower rate, but that destruction is a direct result of your vote. It's a result of all of our votes. We should vote third party this election.
Forget the notion that third parties do not have a chance. If Clinton and Trump become the nominees, it is very possible that third parties will score. As of 2013, 60 percent of Americans want a third party candidate to win the presidency in 2016. Only imagine what those numbers could be like now, especially if Clinton and Trump win! Even many Republicans want Trump. If Trump loses and it comes down to Clinton and Cruz, the Republicans who are Trump supporters likely will be just as dissatisfied with their party as Democrats who are Sanders supporters.
By perpetuating the idea that third parties cannot win elections, you are telling the DNC and the RNC that you will vote for the people who they nominate no matter how crazy or incomprehensible their choices may be. You are telling them that you are a slave to their whim and you will do exactly what they want, regardless of how little you support either candidate.
They want votes. Show that the RNC and the DNC cannot just take your vote for granted. Vote third party this election. Even if you lose, you can go home from the polls knowing that at least it was not your fault that America died.
Learn more about the Libertarian Party at http://www.lp.org/. (Fiscally conservative, socially liberal.)
Learn more about the Green Party at http://www.gp.org/. (Socially and fiscally liberal.)
Learn more about the Constitution Party at http://www.constitutionparty.com/. (Fiscally liberal, socially conservative.)
Learn more about the Modern Whig Party at http://www.modernwhig.org/. (Centrist.)
Learn more about the Communist Party, USA at http://www.cpusa.org/. (Extremely leftist.)
Learn more about the America First Party at http://americafirstparty.org/. (Socially and fiscally conservative, isolationist foreign policy.)
Learn more about the American Nazi Party at http://www.americannaziparty.com/. (While I do not approve of this particular party, I believe that you have the right to vote for it if you do.)
Learn more about the American Freedom Party at http://american3rdposition.com/. (This is a white supremacist political party. I do not agree with their views, but I believe that you have the right to vote for them if you do.)
Learn more about the Socialist Party at http://socialistparty-usa.net/. (Extremely leftist.)
Learn more about the Veterans Party of America at http://www.veteranspartyofamerica.org/. (Centrist.)
Learn more about the Reform Party at http://reformparty.org/. (Centrist with no official stance on social issues whatsoever.)
