The 2012 Presidential Election has practically come down to two candidates: GOP nominee Mitt Romney and our current President of the United States and Democratic nominee Barack Obama. Now I will personally admit that I will not be voting for Obama this upcoming November. Fiscally, I don't agree with the notion that spending on certain programs will stimulate the economy. But that doesn't mean that I will be voting for Mitt Romney, especially since he can't identify a CHOCOLATE DONUT. I won't tell you who I'm voting for in November, but I will make the suggestion that you take the time to consider some potential third-party candidates or an independent.
George Washington warned America of the danger of aligning themselves with one political party and how it would turn the government from a group of people interested in their country's future into a gang of power-hungry tyrants. To put it in English: George Washington loathed political parties. Today, we have partisan cable news stations such as Fox News and MSNBC which spew out "news" and conduct interviews based on their political agendas.
The number of independent voters (Voters who don't consider themselves liberal or conservative) has steadily grown over the years, dating back to 1966. In fact, more than 2.5 million voters have left either the Democratic or Republican party since the 2008 election. Why is this the case? Let's take a look at what each ideology/party offers:
Democratic Party:
- Allows for social freedom such as women having the right to an abortion and for a gay couple to get married.
- Focuses more on the creation of jobs rather than the growth of corporations and businesses. They want to see the unemployment rates go down, which is a great thing.
- Will not go to war for resources; in fact, Democrats tend to hate going to war and consider it a last resort.
- Enforces a lot of government spending and programs.
- Focus on the rights of workers such as the UAW and the Screen Actor's Guild.
- Some people have associated liberalism with socialism and even communism.
- They are NOT mostly agnostic or atheist. Democrats embrace all religion.
- Believes in people being free. However, a study done in 2009 by the Meractus Center at George Mason University ranked (Starting with the least free) New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, California and Maryland as the bottom five free states. All five states are considered pro-liberal states.
- Allows for fiscal freedom such as tax cuts and building your business(es) up to financial respectability. They detest government spending.
- Believes that hard work pays off in the end.
- Tends to be very tough on social issues like gay rights and abortion. That's because many of them base their stances on their Catholic views.
- Big business, small government. These are your CEOs, your chairmen, company presidents and the majority of your bosses.
- Pro-War. Just ask George W. Bush.
- Not all Republicans are neo-conservatives who are anti-gay and pro-war (The same can be said for the Democratic Party, being that they're not all neo-liberals). Texas Rep. Ron Paul believes in preserving the Constitution and has suggested the idea that the United States withdraw their membership from the United Nations. He also believes that the federal government shouldn't have a say in who marries who. Did you know that Clint Eastwood's a registered Republican, but he considers himself a libertarian?
Why not think outside the box and vote for a third party? Thomas Jefferson once said that "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism", and if there was ever a time for a revolution, it's now. Do you like small government, yet you hate sending our troops to Afghanistan or Iraq? Do you want to end the Fed and prefer a free market, you know, some laissez-faire? Vote for Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. Hell, write in Ron Paul if you have to. Want grassroots democracy and ecological wisdom? Go Green (As in the Green Party, made famous by Ralph Nader). If you want to, vote for Virgil Goode Jr. and the Constitution Party! Don't even think of sitting out this election! Not voting in an election won't help you get what you want from your country (Or try to, at least) Anyway you cut it, it's time for an actual change.
No matter who gets inaugurated in January, not everyone's going to be satisfied. But with a national debt that's over a trillion dollars and an unemployment rate that's above 7.5%. there are more displeased American citizens than ever. Do you want change? Don't rely on a single man like Barack Obama or Mitt Romney to try and provide that change. Explore your options and look for the idea that sticks out the most. The power is yours!!
