So here we are, less than two weeks until what many are saying could be the most important election, if not in the history of our country, at least in recent memory, and for us 20 somethings, certainly the most important election we have ever voted in. Now, I'm not one that would usually preach about these kinds of things, I have my views, and generally keep them to myself. However, I feel that this election is important enough that I say something. First, and foremost, our country is a democracy, and in a democracy we are obligated to vote for the most qualified candidate for president(or any office). Our country has had a two party system pretty much continuously since the 1800's and has solidified over the last several decades. The two party system is highly detrimental to our country. No longer do we vote on who is the most qualified, but who is the "lesser of two evils". That line of thinking still puts evil in office, whether you want to admit it or not. Now, I'm not writing this blog to endorse anyone, I just want to give you a few things to think on. First, there are viable third party candidates out there. This may cause you to snicker as you think of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, but think of this. It was because of third party candidates that slavery was abolished, women were given the right to vote and we now have labor laws protecting our rights as workers. Even if a third party candidate doesn't win, when they pull in votes, it forces the major party candidates to consider the policies of those candidates. I know many people will claim that voting for a third party candidate takes votes away from one of the major parties, but who says that I (or anyone) would have voted for that candidate anyway? I can tell you that I would not be voting at all if my only choices were Obama and McCain. It is time that we, as a people, stand up for what we believe in and show the democrats and republicans that we do not have to tow the line, that we want real change in a real way that we can really see.
