We're told that if we vote for an Independent party, we've wasted our vote. We only have two parties and are stuck with choosing between two people in a country of over 300 million. That's why we usually vote for a candidate who is the 'lesser of two evils' instead of one we actually believe will be great for our country. We certainly wouldn't want to 'waste' our vote.

If I vote Libertarian because I believe in the values they express but they are not one of the two main parties, I'm 'taking my vote away from the main candidate'. (wasting my vote)

But then how do the majority of voters even know there are other parties, or what they stand for when the Media completely shuts them out in favor of the wealthy who vie for office? When they are prevented from appearing in debates and get no tv or newspaper attention it's pretty hard for voters to commit to an idea they are serious contenders.

If 75,000 other voters decide to vote Libertarian, would that party receive any votes from the Electoral college or would those 75,000 votes just be scrubbed? (wasted votes)

If that's the case, you may as well vote for your brother or sister - or little Stewie. Better I waste my own vote on someone I really like and trust than to waste it on someone I believe to be dishonest, mean, arrogant, or not the brightest bulb on the tree, wouldn't that be a wasted vote too? Maybe even the biggest waste because I'd continue to give power to those who not only don't serve us but actually harm us.

Would you vote for a third party if you don't believe in the candidates we have been given? Why? ....why not?

purplewings

Ok. Although Ron Paul is no longer in the running, I'm not sure it's worth the time to debate at this point. I'd still urge people to look up the Libertarian policies before the election.

I'm certainly not the only one by far, who believes the media controls what we hear according to the results they want to get.

I think your response about Ron Paul is a personality rather than a principle problem for you - either that or you don't know his issues. You didn't specify what you found so 'extreme'.

I found your suggestion that people 'want' a bigger government in their personal life to watch over their neighbors, etc. to be ludicrous (childish). I haven't known anyone since first grade who wanted to be told what to do or what to say. Adults should be able to manage their own personal lives. A smaller government doesn't take away our basic safeties, only the agencies that were set up only to provide jobs at taxpayers expense, who perform very little or no services at all. There are many of these. With that happening, perhaps our taxes wouldn't need to be as high as they are and could go toward more necessary things.

I also wonder how you could suggest that the Constitution is something that Ron Paul can interpret differently than anyone else. It is written in such a way as to be easily interpreted. Ron Paul and all Libertarians are strong Constitutionalists and attempt to keep our government in line by following it as it were written. After all, it was written as a means to keep government from taking away our rights. If you know people who object to that, you know much different people than I do.

All of the polls I've seen online indicate that 80% of American people do not want Amnesty for illegals. Ron Paul is the only one who has a plan for sealing our borders and returning those who are here illegally. He also has a plan that Social Security is for those who have paid into it and none shall go to any who have not.
He is also pro life and against capital punishment.

I don't necessarily 100% agree with his stance on war, but he alone would not be making the decisions in such matters. I don't like what has happened under the current president either - but no one asked me.

I certainly don't believe Obama, Clinton, and McCain who all believe in the Amnesty program and the citizens paying higher taxes to support these people, deserve to have such support of the people they are willing to ignore completely.

Oh yes, and the so-called health care program being used to gather votes is a big sham. If people can't afford to pay their own now, they won't be able to later either unless their is complete reform of the large health care corporations. Ron Paul, as a doctor has a plan that people can afford. Not at all an extreme plan either.

(My state has eliminated all health care for those who need it, except for elders and people with renal failure....... There is nothing for younger people without insurance who are ill. Where are the people in our government that actually 'care'?)

You also state Ron Paul's stance is easily found and anyone can look it up who chooses to. However, if people haven't heard of Ron Paul - it's not too likely they'll be looking it up.

Basic freedom is what Ron Paul is about and I have a hunch that is not contrary to what other Americans are about either.

VOTE LIBERTARIAN AND TAKE THE POWER AWAY FROM THE STATUS QUO.

RustyFairmount

The problem is that one party seldom aligns with individual voters. I would vote for a candidate with Libertarian views on freedom, Republican views on the economy, and Democrat views on social responsibility.

There is no party for me.

So I have to vote for the candidate that meets my most important needs. Today, it is individual liberties. The Patriot Act is unAmerican. Searching people without probably cause or imprisoning people without a public trial is unconstitutional. My vote goes to the person who will work to change that.

SkyGem

Hi purplewings, I would vote for the person I feel is the most qualified regardless of whether they were part of the two major political parties. Remember, that is why Ross Perot, Ralph Nader and others have run for the presidency. They were not candidates who were considered the mainstream ones that the media pushes, coddles, or endorses, yet they had a perfect right to run. They even got a good amount of votes from people who did not feel the major party candidates should be their choice. It's not whether they win or lose but that as Americans, they have the RIGHT to run for any office they want and deserve the respect they should get. So your vote would not be "lost", you would have gained the freedom to vote your conscience and that is what truly matters! And let me tell you, today we see something tragic happening with Howard Dean and the DNC, as news reports reveal. Just read, in the link below, what he is proposing to do to Hillary's delegates! This is reprehensible, so unfair, and has gotten me so fired up that I am actively supporting her as I do not believe anyone, including Dean, has the power to do that to any candidate. Women are being marginalized in this election and since Hillary is the only one running for top office, she has literally been pushed out the door. We must thus, fight back for JUSTICE and PARITY.

Today, there is a real alternative. Millions of people still believe in Sen. Hillary Clinton and her candidacy that should not have ceased to be so soon. We have a man, Obama, big with words and smiles but small in action and real substance so those millions are not going to vote for him in November but are considering writing-in Hillary on the ballot. She is more experienced, has good plans for America's future and regardless of what Obama supporters may say, she is the BEST candidate in my and many other's opinion. Remember that her husband, when he was president, left this country in the Black, financially speaking, and with THOUSANDS of new jobs before he left office. Hillary could capitalize upon his experience if she was sitting in the Oval office! Do I stand with her 100% on all issues, no. But that does not mean that I would just walk out and divide myself from her as there is much more good that she does/has done/will do than whatever are perceived to be her negatives. Today, we are facing many challenges in America and other countries that it will certainly take a president with proven experience to grab the bull by the horns and handle those challenges. Hillary is the best one for the job! The following websites would not have popped up with MILLIONS of voters ready to write Hillary in the ballot if they did not still believe in her. And while she now campaigns with Obama, so many countless Hillary supporters are turning a blind eye to that and thus, are still planning to draft her name on the November ballot. I hope you can join us!

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Galveston1

I could vote Libertarian this year except for one thing. In the presidential race, a Libertarian vote is a back door vote for Obama. If the Dems had a candidate to the right of their spectrum, I might be able to vote Libertarian. Oops! I think I just described McCain. I might give serious consideration to Libertarians in other races though. If the Libertarian party can establish itself at local and state levels it could become a serious contender for the top spots later.