Break Free: Ditching the Two-Party Trap!

Vote Your Values, Not the Lesser Evil, and Spark Genuine Change.

We hear this every four years: “Voting third party is a wasted vote” and “This is the most important election of our lifetime, and we need to keep X candidate out.” Voting for the lesser of two evils begets evil nonetheless. And as writer Rita Mae Brown said, “‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’  So, what about voting more in line with your principles rather than strategy? It’s challenging, to say the least, and I get it.

So, here we are again, another crucial presidential election, and most do not like either leading candidate. Most are ready to vote for someone; they do not want to keep the other leading candidate out of the White House. It would be great if the media treated qualified candidates equally ( candidates whose names will be on the November 5th ballot ). For example, in Florida, all voters will see at least five names on their ballot for President of the United States. All those printed on the ballot are qualified, yet most will only hear two names in the mainstream media. 

The media and power brokers often portray third-party voting as “spoilers,” but it’s more like spoiling their plans. I’ve never accepted the “spoiler” argument, as it assumes that either Trump or Harris must have my vote, and anything other than that is unacceptable. Since when is voting one’s conscience and value system unacceptable? Unfortunately, this thought process has been built into Americans' heads for decades.

Why would one want to “throw their vote away” by voting for anyone other than the Democrat or Republican? Perhaps we need to get back to principles, the core reason we are voting for representatives in our Constitutional Republic, and break the cycle of voting for the lesser of two evils. Voting is also about expressing your political beliefs and values. If enough people vote for a third party, it can change the political landscape over time.

While third parties face significant challenges, this shouldn’t deter voters from supporting candidates who they align with. Every movement starts small, and incremental growth can lead to substantial change. Moreover, local and state-level successes can pave the way for national breakthroughs.

Reason 1: Break the two-party duopoly and expand the free market of ideas in the political system. This helps signal to the power brokers that there is a thirst for candidates outside the political establishment. When Ross Perot achieved 19+% of the vote in 1992, the powers that be made sure that was never going to happen, and you haven’t seen a third-party candidate on the debate stage alongside a Democrat and Republican presidential nominee since.

Reason 2: Voting is not a strategic exercise but a moral choice for the candidate most aligned with your values. Doing otherwise is a compromise of one’s principles.

Reason 3: Your moral vote starts a snowball effect for future change, building visibility and support. This can help future third-party candidates be treated fairly in the media and included in debates. So, it is an “investment” to the long-term growth of better candidates running for office rather than having them picked for you.

Reason 4: If third-party candidates receive a significant turnout, it will serve as a wake-up call to the GOP and the DNC, leading to changes in public policy.

Reason 5: It could be considered a protest vote against the monopoly of the Republican and Democratic parties. A vote for Harris or Trump further establishes your endorsement of the status quo.

So, voting for someone other than Harris or Trump is more than just a symbolic gesture; it’s a positive step toward a better, more responsive political system for the United States, breaking down the power structure.