It appears as though every voter in the United States is feeling the same way: we all seem to be frustrated at our respective parties. The Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, is full of wild ideas and words of hate and bigotry; on the opposite end, the Democratic nominee, Hilary Clinton, broke federal law and somehow managed to evade jail time. It is clear that both potential leaders are neither honorable nor trustworthy . . . so why is everyone still planning to vote for them? You know you have other options, right?
While the media forces the country's focus on only two people who have "won" the support of their party, we tend to forget that there are other names on the ballot this fall:
Constitution Party
Darrell Castle (Tennessee) and his VP nominee Scott Bradley (Utah)
According to his Wikipedia page (which you may think is not "credible," but is full of really helpful information if your follow the sources at the bottom of the page for confirmation), Castle's political positions are as follows:
"In an interview with Liberty Hangout, Castle has said he is more libertarian than 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson. He describes himself as pro-life, and opposes federal funding of Planned Parenthood. He opposes the war on drugs. When it comes to prostitution, gambling, smoking, marriage or any other activities made by consenting adults, Castle says he sees no role for the federal government to get involved. He favors securing the borders. He describes himself as having a non-interventionist foreign policy. He favors the United States withdrawing from the United Nations, NATO, TPP, NAFTA, CAFTA, Gatt, and WTO. He favors ending the Federal Reserve."
For more information, visit his website.
Green Party
Dr. Jill Stein
Dr. Jill Stein, a medical doctor and the presumptive presidential nominee from Massachusetts. Did you know she ran in 2012 as well? Her wikipedia page states that "She received 469,501 votes in 2012 (0.36 percent of the total votes), more than any other female general election candidate" (other than Hilary this season).
Stein describes her "Power to the People Plan" as one that "creates deep system change, moving from the greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy that puts people, planet and peace over profit." Her plan appears to have twelve key points in which she discusses 1) a new Green deal, 2) jobs as a right, 3) ending poverty, 4) health care as a right, 5) education as a right, 6) a just economy, 7) protecting mother earth, 8) racial justice, 9) freedom and equality, 10) justice for all, 11) peace and human rights and, 12) empowering the people. For more information, head to her website and learn more.
Libertarian Party
Former Governor Gary Johnson (New Mexico) and his VP nominee former governor Bill Weld (Massachusetts)
Johnson "advocates the elimination of tax subsidies, the double taxation embodied in business income taxes, and ultimately, the replacement of all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax." He is also a strong advocate for term limits. In terms of the infamous "abortion question," Gary's answer is a two-fold: "In his personal life the Governor believes in the sanctity of the life of the unborn. However, Gov. Johnson recognizes that the right of a woman to choose is the law of the land, and has been for several decades. That right must be respected, and ultimately he believes this is a very personal and individual decision. He feels that each woman must be allowed to make decisions about her own health and well-being and that these decisions should not be dictated by the government. Further, Gov. Johnson feels strongly that women seeking to exercise their legal right must not be subjected to persecution or denied access to health services by politicians in Washington or elsewhere who are insistent on politicizing such an intensely personal and serious issue."
For more information on Johnson's stance on political issues, visit his campaign website.
On top of the aforementioned candidates, there are many other parties that have put candidates up for election this fall -- America's Party/American Independent Party, American Freedom Party, Constitution Party of Idaho, Party of Socialism and Liberation, Peace and Freedom Party, Prohibition Party, Reform Party USA, Socialist Party USA, Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Workers Party, Veterans Party of America, and Workers World Party. And on top of all of those parties, there are also independent/other/write-ins that will appear on the ballot as well.
So if you're sick and tired of the darkness of lying and bigotry that have covered both the Democrats and Republicans this season, take an afternoon to scour the internet and research those of other parties. You never know -- you may find someone you actually agree with, someone you might actually want to have as your next Commander in Chief. Don't roll over for the media and swallow the junk they continually feed you; don't take the words of the frontrunner politicians as truth. Just like with any other huge decision in your life, do a little research before signing the papers.
