If you were or are a Murican, how would you vote in the 2016 election?

[bennyboy]

That's disappointing. I really don't think Hilary is as honest as Elizabeth.

Yeah, but you can't really root for the best person-- only the least bad person who you think might actually win.

---

So far I hope Elizabeth warren gets the democratic spot, because she seems to be a good candidate. I heard about her through Secular Talk.

How seriously can we take her denial that she is going to run?

I'd say 100%.  Based on her tone in saying she won't run, I think there's something behind the scenes that makes her pretty darned sure.

The sad thing is that her refusal to run probably makes her the best candidate among them all.

[henryp]

I think the characterization of the republican party ignores half the republican party. If we were all weirdos obsessed with gay marriage, we'd be nominating Huckabee/Santorum every year. We're kind of the opposite of the left, in that our least educated voters are the most vocal.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Vote third party. Nothing will change until the duopoly is broken.

I won't get broken by voting for people who can't be elected. Need to change the system first. Then vote for third party candidates when it is possible to elect them.

And how would you propose to get changes to the system pushed through by people who are beholden to the system?

Vote third party.  You don't get a cookie for picking the winner ... but when the numbers start to move away from the duopoly, change becomes more likely.

[Chad32]

I think if everyone who thought voting for a third party, actually voted for the third party anyway, it would help the cause greatly. I like democrats now more than republicans, but I know the democrats aren't that great. They're weak, and many are for the establishment anyway.

[Minimalist]

actually voted for the third party anyway

What's the 3d party?  The libertards?  The Green Party?

Indulge your fantasy for a moment and say some 3d party candidate wins.  What is his power base in the Congress?  The same special interests which have gutted our ability to govern ourselves would still be in place and now you have a president who has no built-in level of support on any issue.

Be careful what you wish for.

[Chad32]

It would be great if we could just clean the whole system out, and start over. I just don't think we can do that without starting another covil war, or something.

[henryp]

Perhaps if we voted for Practical and Competent over last names and rhetoric, it might work the same way as a 3rd party?

Stop rewarding people for who's best at politicking.

[Minimalist]

I hate to piss on the parade of the 3'd Party Fanciers but you all need to read this article to see what you are up against.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Politi...erica.html

To UNDERSTAND the significance of a third party vote, one must first recognize how difficult an act it is to undertake. A host of barriers, disadvantages, and strategies block the path of would-be third party supporters. So formidable are these hurdles that third party voting occurs only under the most extreme conditions... third parties will never be on equal footing with the two major parties and help explain why a third party vote signifies something very different from a vote for either the Democrats or Republicans.

[Chad32]

The establishment does try very heard to remain in power, and gain more, until they're basically distators. I wonder how long it will take before America goes from oligarchy to dictatorship?

[IanHulett]

As long as they aren't trying to force their beliefs on me, I'll vote for them. I don't really identify within any particular party. In fact, I don't really identify as libral or conservative. I hold liberal values, but as far as political party is concerned, I'm more unaffiliated than anything. Some people demonize me for that, but I usually tell them to drop dead. I vote for whoever I feel may be best. Sometimes I don't even vote at all. So, I guess I'm somewhere on the apolitical spectrum.