One, Two, Three......

Not having a Third Party, or A fourth, seems to be a great injustice to all Americans. Somehow, over the years, we have been conditioned to believe we have only two choices, and told anything else is a waste. Well, its time to turn that theory on its head. <!--break--> <p>     Now that elections have come and gone again, and the attendent bickering is starting to die down, we can all reflect once again on the failure of the two-party system. The Dems tried to sell us Kerry under the &quot; anyone but Bush &quot; banner, and The Republicans used, and abused the power of the Presidency and a wad of cash to tell us to &quot;get tough&quot;. Underneath it all lies the same message, vote for me , or vote for him. </p><p>     But that is not the way it has to be. There are many of us out there who vote the party line regardless, even when we don't like who we vote for. Some of us couldn't tell anyone the name of a third party candidate, ever, if they couldn't say Ross Perot. Perot stood the political world on its head. And today the Independance Party has become a dumping ground for dem-rep cast offs, who can't run anywhere else.</p><p>     Things don't have to be like that. You don't have to be on the winning side, to vote the way you want to. Don't be afraid to be called&quot;undecided&quot;' or &quot;swing voter&quot;, just because you haven't registered with a major party. Third party choices exist in vast numbers, many in your state. Do your homework, you may just connect somehow. Some of thwem might have more in common with you than you think. And don't worry, your vote will not be wasted. As if voting for Bush because you don't like Kerry isn't wastefull?</p><p>     There is hope. We can change things, and send them a message. Not that the political gangsters will ever get it. They may change their image, or become more moderate or centrist. But deep down they are still the same. Large, counter-productive organizations, who only want to divide the pie up a little finer. All the while beholden in the following order: campaign contributers, lobby groups, political patrons, then lastly the American people.</p><p>     Send them a message. Show them your vote counts. And for all our sakes, put some thought into it. Eelections are how we show our power. And now a third power is needed. We have four more years to get our heads together. That may  just  be enough time to affect real change, and to show the two party system their days are over.  </p>

<p>Not having a Third Party, or A fourth, seems to be a great injustice to all Americans. Somehow, over the years, we have been conditioned to believe we have only two choices, and told anything else is a waste. Well, its time to turn that theory on its head.</p> <!--break--><p>     Now that elections have come and gone again, and the attendent bickering is starting to die down, we can all reflect once again on the failure of the two-party system. The Dems tried to sell us Kerry under the " anyone but Bush " banner, and The Republicans used, and abused the power of the Presidency and a wad of cash to tell us to "get tough". Underneath it all lies the same message, vote for me , or vote for him. </p> <p>     But that is not the way it has to be. There are many of us out there who vote the party line regardless, even when we don't like who we vote for. Some of us couldn't tell anyone the name of a third party candidate, ever, if they couldn't say Ross Perot. Perot stood the political world on its head. And today the Independance Party has become a dumping ground for dem-rep cast offs, who can't run anywhere else.</p> <p>     Things don't have to be like that. You don't have to be on the winning side, to vote the way you want to. Don't be afraid to be called"undecided"' or "swing voter", just because you haven't registered with a major party. Third party choices exist in vast numbers, many in your state. Do your homework, you may just connect somehow. Some of thwem might have more in common with you than you think. And don't worry, your vote will not be wasted. As if voting for Bush because you don't like Kerry isn't wastefull?</p> <p>     There is hope. We can change things, and send them a message. Not that the political gangsters will ever get it. They may change their image, or become more moderate or centrist. But deep down they are still the same. Large, counter-productive organizations, who only want to divide the pie up a little finer. All the while beholden in the following order: campaign contributers, lobby groups, political patrons, then lastly the American people.</p> <p>     Send them a message. Show them your vote counts. And for all our sakes, put some thought into it. Eelections are how we show our power. And now a third power is needed. We have four more years to get our heads together. That may  just  be enough time to affect real change, and to show the two party system their days are over.  </p>