Absolutely right. Limited government advocates should consider the Libertarian party, and those left of center should go for the Greens. The only way to "waste" your vote is to go with the status quo which is killing us.

It's pointless in a winner-takes-all system, but what the hell. I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want and get it.

If you're disillusioned about the voting process, just think of how many more options you'd have if we had a direct democracy to keep a check on our representative democracy.

I know, I know, the horse is still dead.

The Democrat's are sucking us dry!! Let's make it fair!! Put republican's in the house and see who comes out on top!!

I like the sound of that. You vote for the lackey of the running dogs of capitalism that turns you on and you get sucked dry. Is that like BBBJ for a vote? That would make for a good election day special.

One need look no further than the campaign funding information at OpenSecrets.Org to ascertain that both Democrats and Republicans receive the lion's share of their funding from the same sources. As he who has the gold makes the rules, it is simple to see that Dems and Repubs ultimately serve the same master; and simply appeal to the public through different rhetoric.

This fact can also be seen in their actions.

Repubs are "pro war" and Dems are "anti-war."

YET -- with a Dem controlled House, Senate and Presidency; our armed forces are STILL in places where they do not belong.

Repubs are "anti-Welfare" and Dems are "pro-Welfare."

YET, welfare reform was passed under Clinton and the Prescription Drug benefit was passed under Bush.

The bottom line is that NEITHER party is true to its principles -- which are mere window dressing to attract differing masses -- and BOTH parties serve a master OTHER THAN the people (or Constitution) of the United States.

I often vote for third-party candidates. While there is often the pragmatic "lesser of two evils" or "benefits of gridlock" type of deal; I much prefer voting for someone in whose platform I actually believe.

a mechanism whereby a third-party can be  credible. The arcane and cumbersome rules that are required for a presidential candidate to qualify in all fifty states is just one example of the designed dysfunctionality of our political system.

Rules and regulations are good to a certain extent, but just like in business and commerce; regulations are more often used to keep the powerful and well connected in power rather than to protect and serve. In other words rules and regulations are used to keep out the competition. This makes me sick.



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at least to the extent that I realize as long as there is no true mandate for either party, gridlock will normally ensue. A vote for the GOP is basically a vote for gridlock, and gridlock is the best we can hope for under our current system.

Look at it this way, would you entrust people like Trannyboy, Ben or WW on the one side, or NCJImbo, SouthernJezebel or SOF on the other side with any real power? As long as the two cancel each other out, no real damage is done.