The upcoming 2016 election is now less than three months away. This year’s campaigns will go down as some of the most interesting and dissatisfying on record. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, Americans’ satisfaction with their choices for president is at its lowest point in two decades. Less than half of Democrats and Republicans say they are satisfied with the two major party candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
This discontent applies to millennials especially. Many feel they must choose the lesser of two evils come November, and others will skip the polls all together. I too have shared the frustration of my peers when presented with two less than ideal candidates.
Enter Gary Johnson and his running mate, William Weld. This may come as a surprise to some, but Johnson and Weld are running for president under the Libertarian ticket. Johnson is the former Republican Governor of New Mexico, and Weld served as the Republican Governor of Massachusetts through most of the ‘90s.
Both men boast a bipartisan background, working as Republican governors in generally Democratic states. Now, through the advent of interest in a third party, the pair hopes to bring compromise to our partisan, polarized political system.
For years Libertarians have tried to blow the lid off the country’s two party system, which I’ve expressed my dislike for in a previous article. But Libertarians have always struggled to gain media attention, and the party has always failed to rally enough support for a serious shot at the presidency.
This election, however, is unlike those that preceded it. The flaws of two major party candidates have sparked interest in the Libertarian ticket. Recent polls project roughly 10 percent of the electorate favors a Johnson-Weld ballot. That’s a big number for the Libertarian party, which usually scores much less. Johnson and Weld are gaining ground campaigning as a moderate third option in the upcoming election.
One of the biggest challenges facing the former governors is Americans' attitude towards third party candidates. Many Americans are cynical about a third party’s chances of winning the election and therefore see a vote for a third party candidate as a wasted vote. Johnson and Weld plan to combat this opinion by making it to the national debate stage. To be included, Johnson must poll at least 15 percent nationally. He hopes to inspire support with this message posted on his website.
"I hope that people will see that we don't have to sit by the sidelines and watch as the two major parties limit their choices to slightly different flavors of the status quo,” Johnson said. “It is, in fact, possible to join the fray, stand up for principles and offer a real alternative."
There is much to be examined regarding Johnson’s specific policies, as there is with all presidential hopefuls. To be taken seriously, Johnson and Weld must be subjected to the same scrutiny as the election’s frontrunners. As with all candidates, Johnson’s policies are not without flaws. I believe those flaws should be uncovered and criticized just like those of the Democrats and Republicans
For me, the silver lining is the existence of an alternative. For those frustrated with the election and its candidates, please do not boycott your rights as an American citizen. Our democracy and right to vote are still envied all over the globe, even if it doesn’t seem so today. We all have a responsibility to make the most of our opportunity to elect our own president. We have a responsibility to weigh all our options equally. We have a responsibility to vote for the man or woman best suited for the job. Please do your part and make an informed decision this November. After all, the only truly wasted vote is one not cast.
Politico: "Gary Johnson Has a Plan"
National Review: "Never Gary Johnson"
Learn about another, fourth party candidate.
