Many consider the presidential election this year unlike any other in recent memory. In the views of some, the “Maverick” McCain and “Barack you like a hurricane” Obama are clashing in an epic battle of good vs. evil. To others the election is little more than a popularity contest. Polls circulate around the Internet with questions like “Who would you rather watch a football game with?” and “Which presidential candidate would you prefer as a barbecue dinner guest?” Despite the fact that no one who voted in those polls will ever hang out with either candidate doesn’t seem to matter. Many analysts are predicting a record turnout at the polls this year. There is a huge amount of interest among young voters as well as older voters. Many issues that have been ignored for years are finally coming to the forefront and they are drawing people who have never voted to the voting booth. There is a profound sense of change in the air, and not just because the politicos say so.
For some voters, however, there is still little difference in this election. Many independents, and those who associate with third-party candidates, are not happy with the two-party system that is gripping Washington.
I am a libertarian voter who is extremely disappointed in the two major candidates this year. As a libertarian, I think the government should be smaller, allow us more freedom, tax us less and generally stay out of our lives.
Neither McCain nor Obama seems to share these ideas. To me it seems as though both candidates are more or less the same with a few rhetorical differences. Both intend to increase the size of our already monolithic government, they both endorsed the biggest Wall Street bailout in history, and both candidates supported the FISA amendment passed this summer which further invades our privacy. I’m sure there are many other libertarians and independents who agree that neither candidates are symbols of vaguely defined “change.”
One candidate I’ve been watching recently is Bob Barr, running on the Libertarian ticket. He wants a smaller, less intrusive government, more freedom, and lower taxes. According to an analysis by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, Bob Barr’s budget would reduce government spending by about $200.9 billion. McCain’s proposal would increase government spending by $92.4 billion, and Obama will increase government spending by a massive $293 billion. If you liked what Ron Paul was saying during the primary season then you should definitely look into Bob Barr. Even if he is not as extreme as Ron Paul, he would still lead the nation toward fiscal sanity.
This year there are hordes of organizations and events encouraging voters to use their voice and to increase voter turnout. That’s good, but most only offer Democratic and Republican perspectives. Media organizations devote countless hours to the two major candidates. What if I want my voice to be a vote of no confidence in the partisan duopoly? There is no option on the ballot for that, so many disillusioned people choose not to vote at all. If they don’t vote they are often ridiculed as unpatriotic.
Because of that reasoning I had become apathetic lately about the presidential campaign. But, after reading an article online recently, I realized that I had to vote, and not for McCain or Obama. Many people consider it “wasting” a vote if someone votes for a third-party candidate. After all, they’ll never get elected, right? That is exactly the attitude that keeps third-party candidates from getting elected. The only way to waste my vote is to vote for Obama or McCain. If I really want change, I can’t vote for the establishment.
I agree with that we have to kick out the politicians who are destroying our nation with their partisan antics. But for some reason, some people think that it is only the Republicans who are wrecking Washington. With all the talk about bipartisanship these days we need to realize that the Democrats and Republicans are bipartisanly wrecking Washington. The only way to end all the madness is to challenge the establishment, and that includes both parties. If you want change, you won’t find it in the two major candidates.

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