Opinion: Elections
posted by Daniel Martin | September 8, 2016 | In OpinionThe more things change, the more they stay the same.
Last year I wrote a paper titled: “Will the Real Presidential Candidate Please Stand up” in light of the debates I had watched. Almost a year later, I still feel the exact same way. The only thing that has changed is now the presidential candidates are official. What has stayed the same is there is still uncertainty either candidate can do the job.
All that has been seen or said has been about emails, foundations, walls separating borders, and general immigration itself. Meanwhile Americans are yearning and looking for a candidate that can help bring us out of the despair and deep holes in which we are.
Maybe now is the time to get out of our ways of party affiliation, Democrats and Republicans. Maybe now is the time to look at the third party candidates and take them more seriously instead of looking at them as the “runt” trying to get a seat at the table or get a slice of the pie.
Every four years we hear of a third party candidate, however, those people have been seen as no more than a person to take some votes from the major parties. This year, the name I hear lots of is Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico.
The feeling among people and from what you see on news outlets is that Johnson just needs a spot in the debates. In my opinion, that can be his big moment. If he gets to that point, to use a sports metaphor, this could his MVP or Heisman moment.
In the next few months of uncertainty, maybe now is the time to make a statement. Maybe as a nation, we can find a common ground and say we are not looking for the next circus sideshow ring leader.
In past years, I, too, have been one to not even consider the third party. In 1992, Ross Perot, while he did have his followers, seemed destined to be a punch line. In 2000, Ralph Nader got some attention, but came up short.
If there is any year to take a third party candidate seriously, this is the year. Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump may do great things if elected, but as of now it looks sketchy at best.
This is not me trying to get people to convert or even say the third party is the way to go. This is me saying do the research and give them a chance. Don’t just put the Democrat/Republican blinders on and stick to the norm. Maybe a shakeup of the foundation is what this country needs.
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