The fear of throwing away one's vote comes when elections are close. This presidential election was an exception but in recent years many votes cast were in opposition to the worst evil by way of voting for the lesser evil. It is at least a debatable issue that Ross Perot's candidacy gave Clinton the win and Ralph Nader's candidacy gave Bush the win. The best way to neutralize the lesser of two evils motivation is by means of the instant run-off. Then people can feel free to vote for whomever they want to win, while insuring a vote for their lesser evil choice in the process.

I also believe that the enthusiasm and funds of libertarians and Libertarians would be better spent on education than on politics. Like many folks, I came to the LP by way of Ayn Rand, though, ironically, she personally did not support the party. She believed that social change is a prerequisite to political change. I didn't understand at the time but have since come to agree with her on that point.

While I am ideologically libertarian, I too vote for the person.

Thanks fool_on_the_hill and kiowamohican for your comments.

The point isn't whether you think the LP will have a snowball's chance, or a meaningful effect - the point is why keeping voting for the status quo? The idea of wasting your vote on D&Rs while waiting around for LP viability is a prescription for the continued corruption of government.

Vote for the person you WANT! An election is NOT a horse race, you are NOT trying to predict the winner. You are exercising your voice in the future of this country. I never understand people who say "you know, I really liked the Libertarian candidate, but according to the media, they didn't have a chance so I had to vote against the (D or R) by voting for the (R or D) candidate". HUH?!? You vote for someone you do NOT want, because the MEDIA tells you that the person you DO want is behind in the polls? I would never give the media that kind of power.

I do agree that instant run-off elections are a step in the right direction.

Ross Perot had a great chance to win as a 3rd party candidate.
He totally botched it; however, when he dropped out claiming that the Bush (Bush 41) administration was going to do some scheme to ruin his daughters wedding. It came of as being so paranoid that he looked like a total nut. Then when he decided to re-enter no one knew if he was even serious about being in or out of the race, and he was COOKED (nonetheless he still got about 20 million popular vote..about 20% of the total vote cast). Before he dropped out he was leading in EVERY major poll over both Bush and Clinton.
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The only way a 3rd party has any chance is if A: the candidate has a MASSIVE personal bankroll; and B: The public is fed up BIG TIME with both parties.
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After the Democrats bomb with their majority power, you are likely to have a very large contingency of people fed up with both parties; as both will have been total failures with the majority power they held. That could lead the way for a strong 3rd party candidate.
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It's not as ill conceived as one many think. Remember not to long ago; Jessie "the body" Ventura won a state wide governors race in MN as a 3rd party candidate.

gpawcat, licenses date back to the law of Hammurabi. Please contain your excitement.

Doyle raises the fees on licenses it's going to be passed along to the people that use those services. Not a bright idea from Doyle in this economy. He truly is a moron.

As one who attended a Wisconsin Libertarian Party meeting in a living room with the other eleven members (yes, I really am that old) I do wish I could believe that voting Libertarian would have any meaningful effect on the politics of this country. It is now almost forty years later and the progress made since then has been abysmal. The LP won't gain any political strength until voters see it as a viable choice and it will never be seen as a viable choice until it has enough members to give it political strength. Even having a former well known Republican as their presidential candidate wasn't enough to generate sufficient buzz. In fact, main stream media coverage of the LP during the early 70s was better than it is now. Moreover, the national debates were open back then. Since then, our government has devolved into a oligarchy. That's not progress.

Effort should instead be redirected toward the establishment of instant run-off elections nationwide. Accomplishing that is a big enough challenge all by itself. But, until that happens, no third-party will ever have a snowball's chance. With instant run-off in place, I do believe that many people would vote LP as their first choice and then vote their preferred "lesser evil" D or R as a second choice. The fear of throwing away one's vote is just too real for too many voters.

Licenses are the way the STATE controlls people. I think Nazi Germany was the first country to think up the idea.

I agree, if more people voted for the 3rd party, we could give the Republicans and Democrats a run for their money.

YES, vote Libertarian! The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party and has been for some time. For those that continue to vote Republicrat or Democan, I again ask - how's that working out for you? Stop wasting your vote on the corporate parties, they really do not differ enough to make a real difference. And kiowamohican, don't despair. It makes more sense to vote for who YOU WANT, than to waste your vote on the "lesser of two evils". Believe me, the R&Ds notice how many people vote for Libertarians, even as the mainstream media collude in underreporting us.

I agree sannio:
I am libertarian myself, but it's not like it does much good. People still think the 2 party system is the way to go, and all it has done is lead the country into the ground. Both parties are running up massive debt, and spending your tax $$$ recklessly, and out of control. While the scope of government grows to something that is looking like it's straight out of Orwell's 1984!
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It's beyond belief that Doyle and these clowns answer to a deficit is mass tax increases. Economists from all sides will tell you that is a SURE FIRE way to kill an economy amidst a recession.

I thought we all hated Republicans now. Have things changed that fast? First we hate the Democrats, and vote Republican, then we hate Republican, and vote Democrat. Back and forth we go. This proves to me there's no difference between the two parties, and look what mess both of them have gotten us into.
Vote Libertarian, and stop this madness.

Maybe they shoud object to their raises! Priorities boys.

Kudos - now keep the good fight going.

At last;....an inkling of reason.