Those are your Democratic and Republican candidates for president in the 2016 election, folks. Can’t deny it. Done deal.
I don’t blame Millennials for two of the most disliked and distrusted candidates in history. Nearly every poll consistently had the majority of Millennials supporting Bernie Sanders over both Trump and Clinton. The discussion of whether Bernie was a worthwhile candidate is for another time (that time being never, because it doesn’t matter anymore). However, without drowning you in more clickbait polls, the prevailing feeling is that Americans in general – and Millennials especially – are not thrilled with either remaining presidential prospect.
But wait, aren’t we supposed to be the “Generation of Choice”? When we didn’t like taxis, we invented Ubers and Lyfts. We’re the first generation to see (somewhat) widespread acceptance of differing lifestyles. Hell, there’s never been a wider selection of beer in American history.
Yet here we sit, with our whiny Tweets and Facebook posts, complaining about the inevitable decision to vote for Him or Her. The “lesser of two evils”.
Da fuq?
There are two other legitimate choices for president still in the race: Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party. Why are we ignoring them?
Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Photos from Wikipedia. Cover image by DonkeyHotey of Flickr.
To be clear, I am not writing in support of either for president. But as an American who can’t stand either major party candidate, and a Millennial who demands options dammit, I need to know more about each. And you do, too.
Here’s a link directly to where former-Governor Johnson stands on major issues. READ IT.
And here’s Dr. Jill Stein’s. READ IT, TOO.
While our media loves to talk about Trump’s crazy wall-building and colored-people-hating platform, and Hillary’s penchant for grasping Sanders’ support by changing her own positions (both of which are important to note), we get no word whatsoever on the legitimate stances of the other two candidates.
To name a few:
- Johnson wants saner laws regarding the failed War on Drugs.
- Stein wants to focus on renewable energies and public transportation.
- Johnson wants to end career politicians with term limits.
- Stein wants to demilitarize our local police forces.
Did you know any of that?
The majority of you will say it doesn’t matter, that neither candidate has a shot. Indeed, neither is (yet) polling at 15% nationally which is required to get a spot at the official debates. But guess what: the Commission for Presidential Debates (which is composed of reps from the Republican and Democratic parties, natch) is already planning its sites with a 3rd podium. Johnson is close in multiple polls. Stein isn’t completely out of the hunt, either.
A recent poll has Trump behind all three of the other candidates with Millennials. Get loud, young folks. Forget your crazy-haired Socialist leader, refuse to acquiesce, and demand that we get two new voices to combat the garbage coming from both Trump and Hillary. Vote in polls for Johnson and Stein. Call your Senators, your Governors, your local Marquette University, and tell them that Johnson and Stein at least deserve to be heard.
Support the choice in politics like you support the choice in everything else. Support Johnson’s push to 15% in the polls. Speak Stein’s name like she deserves to be held in high esteem as a female presidential candidate.
Get angry. Make a fuss. Demand choice.
Be a Millennial.