Why would we want people to vote...

[Ibanez]

. Sadly, nobody has the balls to eschew them and work to give a third party some credibility. It's always, " I'd vote Libertarian but they don't stand a chance against the GOP." Well no if you refuse to help them.

I don't think it takes balls or brians to vote third party. IMO it's more like a white flag. What kind of message is Cleets sending by casting a vote for Jill Stein?

Why continue to vote for Republicans and Democrats when we can all agree that they are part of a broken system? It's not a white flag.

[BlueHen86]

. Sadly, nobody has the balls to eschew them and work to give a third party some credibility. It's always, " I'd vote Libertarian but they don't stand a chance against the GOP." Well no if you refuse to help them.

I don't think it takes balls or brians to vote third party. IMO it's more like a white flag. What kind of message is Cleets sending by casting a vote for Jill Stein?

On the other hand, voting for the same two parties over and over again, and expecting things to change, sounds like the definition of insanity.

[Chizzang]

What kind of message is Cleets sending by casting a vote for Jill Stein?

at the Presidential level:
Our two party system is broken
it offers up nothing (NOTHING) worth MY vote

[89Hen]

Why continue to vote for Republicans and Democrats when we can all agree that they are part of a broken system? It's not a white flag.

A true third party candidate with any chance, even remote, is a different story. Voting for somebody who you know is going to garner 3% or less of the vote isn't making any statement whatsoever. I can't recall an election where there has been more resentment of the two parties, yet there were still no viable third party candidates. Their biggest hope is to play the role of spoiler. Great.

[89Hen]

I don't think it takes balls or brians to vote third party. IMO it's more like a white flag. What kind of message is Cleets sending by casting a vote for Jill Stein?

On the other hand, voting for the same two parties over and over again, and expecting things to change, sounds like the definition of insanity.

And voting for a third party with no chance of winning over and over again?

[clenz]

Who gets Veterans Day off?

Schools

Really?

[Chizzang]

On the other hand, voting for the same two parties over and over again, and expecting things to change, sounds like the definition of insanity.

And voting for a third party with no chance of winning over and over again?

This ^

89hen is clear and concisely making THE point...

[BlueHen86]

On the other hand, voting for the same two parties over and over again, and expecting things to change, sounds like the definition of insanity.

And voting for a third party with no chance of winning over and over again?

Sends a message to the two main parties that you are willing to take the time vote, but you aren't satisfied with what they offer. IMO it's better to vote third party than to vote for a party that you aren't happy with.
The worst option is not to vote at all.

[89Hen]

And voting for a third party with no chance of winning over and over again?

Sends a message to the two main parties that you are willing to take the time vote, but you aren't satisfied with what they offer. IMO it's better to vote third party than to vote for a party that you aren't happy with.
The worst option is not to vote at all.

What message? Quick, name a third party candidate from your neighboring state. Truth is, no message is being sent at 3.2%.

[BlueHen86]

Sends a message to the two main parties that you are willing to take the time vote, but you aren't satisfied with what they offer. IMO it's better to vote third party than to vote for a party that you aren't happy with.
The worst option is not to vote at all.

What message? Quick, name a third party candidate from your neighboring state. Truth is, no message is being sent at 3.2%.

No message is sent at 0%. No message is sent if you blindly follow either.

[Chizzang]

I got the answer to this debate...


Jill Stein

[89Hen]

What message? Quick, name a third party candidate from your neighboring state. Truth is, no message is being sent at 3.2%.

No message is sent at 0%. No message is sent if you blindly follow either.

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

[Chizzang]

No message is sent at 0%. No message is sent if you blindly follow either.

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

There has to be a booger joke in there ^ somewhere...

[BlueHen86]

No message is sent at 0%. No message is sent if you blindly follow either.

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

Where did I claim that you claimed to be sending a message?

[89Hen]

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

Where did I claim that you claimed to be sending a message?

You implied it with your post.

Do you honestly believe you are sending a message?

[BlueHen86]

Where did I claim that you claimed to be sending a message?

You implied it with your post.

Do you honestly believe you are sending a message?

I usually vote "R" or "D", but if I don't like either candidate I will vote independent. I don't know how much of a message I am sending. You seem to be arguing that a third party vote (when the third party has no chance at winning) is a wasted vote, I disagree.

[DSUrocks07]

No message is sent at 0%. No message is sent if you blindly follow either.

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

And those who vote third party aren't?

[89Hen]

You seem to be arguing that a third party vote (when the third party has no chance at winning) is a wasted vote, I disagree.

Then you read correctly. You may as well not vote for that particular seat IMO.

BTW, I do abstain from voting for any seats where I haven't done my homework (school board, etc...). The only exception to that this year was I voted for all three R's running for county council. This is the current council:

Roger Berliner - D
Craig Rice - D
Phil Andrews - D
Nancy Navarro - D
Cherri Branson - D
Nancy Floreen - D
Marc Elrich - D
George Leventhal - D
Hans Riemer - D

Guess I should heed my own advice and not waste my vote on people that have no chance of winning.

[89Hen]

Where did I claim to be sending a message? That's your schtick. I'm helping to pick a winner.

And those who vote third party aren't?

In most cases, they're helping somebody else to lose.

[CAA Flagship]

You implied it with your post.

Do you honestly believe you are sending a message?

I usually vote "R" or "D", but if I don't like either candidate I will vote independent. I don't know how much of a message I am sending. You seem to be arguing that a third party vote (when the third party has no chance at winning) is a wasted vote, I disagree.

It's a wasted vote.

[CAA Flagship]

We need a third party, but it has to rise up from the bottom. Dickheads like Perot do nothing but steal votes from a guy that they would vote for if they weren't running themselves. And it often means that they guy they hate the most wins because of it.

The third party needs to build at the State Senate level and grow from there. Then Governor level and US Congressional level. And it is important that committee assignments include spots for the third party within Congress. Then, and only then, does a third party have a shot at winning a White House race, rather than affecting it.

[DSUrocks07]

We need a third party, but it has to rise up from the bottom. Dickheads like Perot do nothing but steal votes from a guy that they would vote for if they weren't running themselves. And it often means that they guy they hate the most wins because of it.

The third party needs to build at the State Senate level and grow from there. Then Governor level and US Congressional level. And it is important that committee assignments include spots for the third party within Congress. Then, and only then, does a third party have a shot at winning a White House race, rather than affecting it.

I can agree with that. For it to truly be a grassroots movement it needs to start from the roots.

Until then it will always be percieved as a "protest vote"

If you vote third party for the presidency yet vote just R or D on the rest of your ballot you are part of the problem.

[89Hen]

We need a third party, but it has to rise up from the bottom. Dickheads like Perot do nothing but steal votes from a guy that they would vote for if they weren't running themselves. And it often means that they guy they hate the most wins because of it.

The third party needs to build at the State Senate level and grow from there. Then Governor level and US Congressional level. And it is important that committee assignments include spots for the third party within Congress. Then, and only then, does a third party have a shot at winning a White House race, rather than affecting it.

What would a third party look like? The only answer I see is a watered down or more extreme version of one of the current parties.

[CAA Flagship]

We need a third party, but it has to rise up from the bottom. Dickheads like Perot do nothing but steal votes from a guy that they would vote for if they weren't running themselves. And it often means that they guy they hate the most wins because of it.

The third party needs to build at the State Senate level and grow from there. Then Governor level and US Congressional level. And it is important that committee assignments include spots for the third party within Congress. Then, and only then, does a third party have a shot at winning a White House race, rather than affecting it.

What would a third party look like? The only answer I see is a watered down or more extreme version of one of the current parties.

Hell if I know. But a good foundation would be truth and transparency. They could easily steal elections running against the records of the Donks and Conks.

[89Hen]

Hell if I know. But a good foundation would be truth and transparency.

That's not a platform issue.