The political landscape of American politics is dominated by two primary parties. This is largely a function of the voting mechanism employed by American elections. The plurality system is simple to implement, but it results in circumstances in which a voter is encouraged to vote for a candidate whom he does not rank highly just to prevent the victory of a candidate whom he ranks even lower. (Many people to whom I have spoken state that they voted for John Kerry in the last presidential election not because they like him but because they liked George W. Bush even less.)

I could delve into a discussion of different voting systems and how they could remedy the problem, but I would rather address the problem as it stands now.

It is my opinion that my vote is my VOICE. To vote for a candidate of whom I do not approve is a lie. With this in mind, I hold that is dishonest (morally incorrect) to vote for a candidate whom one does not endorse. The desired ends, preventing a candidate whom one actively dislikes from becoming president, does not justify the means -- lying on one's ballot. A vote for a third party is not a waste simply because if you WANT to vote for a third party candidate, then it is the only morally correct vote to cast.

Opinions?

As long as we americans continue to let the U.S. Goverment control what we do, we have no rights to dictate if there should be a third party or not.

OMFG take your happy ass deleteing fingers and go somewhere else. FFS people, just cause you do not want to talk politics does not mean others dont

Not to mention the fact that the country is ran in a sense by whoever has the most money at election time, and whoever gives the most monies (big business) are always going to rule.

In the constitution there is an amendament that gives us the right to restore goverment Here it is in a nutshell
http://www.perkel.com/politics/issues/fourth.htm

Oil may be Texas, but dipsticks in DC

I voted Tuesday in local elections (38% turnout)(friggin lovely) and my thoughts are if you vote you have the right to "B I T C H" , but so many I am finding out that they don't vote... why bother? Doesn't count anyway... they had so many problems with the systems while I was waiting, do we purge his vote? I don't know? The volunteers had no clues...

You are gonna have some split voting straight, either all dem or all rep, or all 3rd party because they hate dems and reps in general. I prefer to base it on the person and their views and what BS promises I find endearing to be swayed to vote for them. Am I happy with our choices so far in presidential elections coming up?? No Very sad.

Big corporations have a lot more say in government then one would think... and they have alot more pull in DC than we would think...

It would take something major for things in DC to change... DC is corrupt from the highest down to the bottom... it may yake years for the truths to come to light.

Here is the problem I have, even when we goto vote, it is now ELECTORIAL votes that count not the peoples' votes. So a lot of people feel that why vote if it does not count. I could be wrong but that's the way I understand the voting system of how it is now

Correct Bear the electorial system.... and just for that reason alone people feel 'why bother'.....

So we the PEOPLE of the united states need too speak our peace, am I saying to go and storm DC no. I am saying this, we need to standup for the rights we have left. Everyday one more right gets taken from us. Our forefathers, the founders of the constitution are rolling over in the grave now. If they were alive today, i can almost bet JR would be out along with plenty of others

It is my opinion that we actually have things too good here in the United States. Our quality of life is such that it's easy not to care about the erosion of our rights. Comfort has made us complacent.

People talk a big game about voting but for many, that's just because they want to feel involved and to pretend that they matter. If one votes Republican and that state goes blue (blue=Rep and red=Dem, right?), then that person can feel a sense of contribution and accomplishment. It is democracy theatre.

Before we can even get people to voice their opinion about their rights, we need to make them CARE about their rights. Although I've made a token effort, I'm only really beginning to appreciate my rights and duties as a citizen. I'm tired of settling for the illusion of democratic choice and I'm disappointed at the number of people that I see who seem completely satisfied by the DC song and dance routine.

Most them people are satisfied because they are wealthy and they have strong ties too the political party they backed. Me I am pissed because they still have not even begun too help the people in this country, homeless, uneducated mothers and fathers working at mediocre jobs just too make the bills IF they are lucky, yet we encourage the sending of money overseas too other people when wehave people here who need it

Many won't Bear and I really love the passion you feel towards this, if many like you, channeled it, changes do occur. Many are happy with get up, go to work, go home, sleep. Luckily breathing is not optional and happens...

Many rights have been taken away and they slowly dwindle down to eventually we'll have nothing... which is borderline now...
This Homeland Security was just another step in reducing rights of freedom for us under the rouse... we will be protected more from terrorists.... well then who protects us from our own??

For decades the gov has managed to strip away things set up by our forefathers, they will say that was then & this is now, does not apply, change a law here and there... where eventually The Constitution will be used for fire kindling....

But again Bear it boils down to the people... young people rarely think about politics... but eventually this planet gets handed over to them and then what?? I have a 9 year old that is ready to take on Hillary LOL It's cute, but scary because at 9 she does have simplistic ideas on solving things happening in her world. Will I deter her from thinking she can't??? No...

Sometimes things in life are just that....simple. Yet we find ways to over-simplify and make it more complicated than it needs be.

If it ain't broke...why upgrade.
When it is broke... fix it or buy new.
Simple.