I've never been much of a political person, always turning a blind eye to the politics that both thrive and crumble our country. I will never claim to know or understand the ins and outs of our political ordeals (I'll leave that to the poli sci and international affairs majors). However, I do know that as November dawns closer upon us, I find that more and more people are causing upset over the two nominees who will, inevitably, be the power of our nation. I too have an uncomfortable unease in my stomach as both Trump and Clinton gain power, and it is not to say that I don't feel they are equipped to run our country, it is that I don't think they are right for the position. I know few people that support either of the candidates and I find that, actually, most are simply choosing one of the lesser evils. It is an apprehensive choice, one not confidently rooted in their beliefs or morals. For some, it is merely a loyalty to their Republican or Democratic party and for others, it may be their unwillingness to vote for one of the candidates. For people like me, it is because there are no other options. I've been back and forth with my decision, lingering in a state of uncertainty and, sometimes, wondering if it's even worth voting at all. How am I to trust myself in the ballot when I cannot even trust my candidates?

There is, however, the third option. Many people do not consider the third party candidates liable options in a presidential race, but with such a cut edge election scene, it has become crucial for voters to research other possibilities. The argument is that the third party isn't worth voting for because it is nearly impossible for them to gain support on the outer rims of the traditional two-party system. However, it is that mind set that deters our nation from making the progress that it needs. If America is an equal opportunity nation, why do we not extend that courtesy to other parties in such crucial elections such as this? We should not be made to feel as if we are stuck in a coin toss, deciding between who makes us cringe less.

It is in the libertarian party that I found a candidate worthy of my vote, who I can trust will not fight tooth and nail in the election for the sake of title and greed. Gary Johnson, former two-term governor of New Mexico, is running alongside William Weld of Massachusetts, fighting to gain access to the polls this November. In order to be written in on the ballot, Johnson must obtain 15% in five national surveys, and as of July 18, CNN has posted that he has already reigned in with a close 13%. His time as governor produced a balanced budget and created more jobs within his state than any other contemporary governor who has run for president. In fact, Johnson has pledged his first presidential act to be submitting a truly balanced budget to Congress without tax increases while vetoing any legislation that will result in overspending. Right now, our debt and our offshore corporation market have left us in the hands of foreigners, scattering our income and our jobs all across the globe. Johnson wants to repair that bond by eliminating income taxes on businesses, which he believes will make the job market in the U.S. more attractive. As for the more controversial topics such as immigration and the war on terror, Johnson believes in more strategic and logical approaches rather than using extreme militarization to momentarily solve these elongated issues. He is a candidate that supports freedom, not as the government dictates it through legislation, but as we choose it alongside our government. Going into this election, I feel more confident that I will be choosing a candidate who is honest, wholeheartedly determined to be the most progressive and sincere president we have yet to see. More information on Gary Johnson's campaign can be found on both his website and Facebook account.