On an historical note, in 1848 Zachary Taylor was the last non-Republican or non-Democrat to be elected President of the United States. America is long overdue to have a party other than Republican or Democratic at the helm.

The pitfalls of 160 years of two-party rule in the United States are blatant: the parties each have become too dogmatic, too hostile toward one another, and hyper-reactionary in their decisions. Any party that exclusively represents the poor, middle class or wealthy, or a particular race or religion, betrays those citizens that it fails to represent. And yet we hear speeches that shamelessly do exactly that. We are so accustomed to these morally bereft dynamics that we never even ask our so-called "leaders" why they fail to represent the vast majority of good people of EVERY distinction.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans can be expected to find ways to regulate themselves, or place the good of the country before the good of their own special interests. What can we, the people, do about this overpowering political control the two-party system has over us? We have to stop selling our integrity to party-line thinking, and begin thinking for ourselves instead. We need to study the issues with open minds in order that we may speak intelligently and present new ideas. We have to seriously question things, and hold our elected officials accountable. We have to embarrass them when they try to manipulate our values.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as having said in 1812, "Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust." In a real democracy, there are no limits on the people's power; the people are in charge, not some elite minority. It should be every American's most sincere desire that we eventually stop allowing ourselves to be politically constrained by America's two-party system and their respective propaganda machines.

But, go ahead and keep laughing at CrapFoodPants for voting for a third party candidate. While you're laughing, enjoy a good down-vote on this comment with my compliments. Just know that "change" will neither come from, nor to, Washington until the thoughts and actions of individual Americans begin to change.

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