It's not about winning. I voted for Jill Stein in 2016 and Howie Hawkins in 2020. I didn't vote for them because I thought they would win, and that's not the bar third parties need to cross to gain viability. I voted for Stein because 5% of the total vote for third parties is better than 2%, and obviously 10% is better. These things take time, and the more people are disgusted by the Democratic and Republicans, and the more they actually vote for alternative candidates (as opposed to not voting, which, while valid, isn't, in my mind, useful), maybe we can move past the two party system.Lazerus wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2024 10:08 amThe problem here is the GOP and Dems have a monopoly on the system and have made it nearly impossible for a third party or Independent candidate to win.Jigsaw wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2024 9:06 am At least 16 independent or third party candidates are on at least one ballot.
1) Shiva Ayyadurai (independent)
2) Claudia De la Cruz (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
3) Lucifer “Justin Case” Everylove (independent)
4) Rachele Fruit (Socialist Workers Party)
5) Chris Garrity (independent)
6) Blake Huber (Approval Voting Party)
7) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (independent)
8) Joseph Kishore (Socialist Equality Party)
9) Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party)
10) Jasmine Sherman (Green Party of Alaska)
11) Joel Skousen (Constitution Parties of Idaho, Utah, and Nevada)
12) Peter Sonski (American Solidarity Party)
13) Jill Stein (Green Party)
14) Randall Terry (Constitution Party)
15) Cornel West (independent)
16) Michael Wood (Prohibition Party)
Hopefully that list will grow - I'd love to see both Bill Stodden (Socialist Party USA) and Dennis Schuller (Legal Marijuana Now) get ballot access.
Fun fact - Legal Marijuana Now had ballot access, but Democrats screwed them over because 'democracy.' What a joke of a party.
In fact, it's the only way we can move past the two party system. It may never work, but continually voting for Republicans and Democrats almost got us a Trump v. Biden match-up, so obviously that's not working either.