This is extremely insulting to me.

I think the only wasted vote is the vote that never is cast. Many people who try to convince me to not “waste” my vote for a third party are trying to get my support for their candidate, saying that since my candidate won’t win, I shouldn’t vote for him or her.

However, I could argue that voting for President Obama or Gov. Romney is a “waste” of a vote since the parties these two men are running for represent the political establishment of the nation for decades. You are “wasting” your vote on the same parties that have been winning the vast majority of elections for decades. These parties are the ones that caused many of the problems the current government faces.

Consider some important issues that are at hand this November and each candidate’s plan to address them.

What is each candidate’s plan to make meaningful cuts to our national debt? Which candidate will try to make the United States a peaceful nation, avoiding a potential war with Iran? Will manless drones continue to bombard and terrorize citizens of countries we are not at war with? Which candidate will do everything in his power to improve our dismal educational system? Will either candidate repeal the Patriot Act or the National Defense Authorization Act, ensuring Americans will retain their full constitutional rights?

These simple questions refer to very important issues: our national debt, our military, our education and our rights. In no way are they extreme or secondary.

Now, the question that must be asked is which candidate is best equipped to rectify these problems.

I don’t necessarily know who the best candidate to fix all these problems is; however, I can say with confidence that neither of the front-runners for president is the perfect solution. President Obama and Gov. Romney would both provide more of the same debt-increasing, war-mongering and rights-constricting policies that have led this nation to the point it is at now.

I believe this has been made clear during the presidential debates this election season — which, to this point, have been an absolute farce. Instead of talking about the very important issues facing this nation, viewers are stuck with debates full of lies given by the candidates and topics, such as Big Bird. If nothing else, these debates have reinforced the point that these two parties run on an extremely similar platform. The debates would be well served by an infusion of additional candidates and viewpoints. Instead of voting for any real change in government this November, citizens are asked to choose between the lesser of two evils. Unfortunately, the lesser of two evils still is evil.

That is why I now am asking you to make sure your views are represented by the party you are supporting. You can do this by researching parties’ positions or by using an online survey such as one you can find at www.isidewith.com.

After taking these steps, if your views coincide with one of the main parties, fantastic. However, many views of American citizens, especially college students, might be better represented by other parties.

Look into writing in Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party. Perhaps you should vote for Jill Stein of the Green Party. If you have extreme views, maybe you need to look into other parties. Find a candidate running in your community who doesn’t fit the usual mold of establishment politician.

At the very least, know about alternative candidates, even if you don’t plan on voting for one. The more attention and votes these parties receive, the better chance we have for a real debate in upcoming elections.

More diverse viewpoints can lead to better decision making, improving our political system.
If you do vote for one of these third-party candidates, let me fill you in on a secret: a third-party candidate will not win the presidential election, but that is OK.

Elections are somewhat like sporting events. The point of sports fandom and elections is not always to be part of the winning side, but to support your team through good times and bad. Even if your vote does not translate into victories in elections, you should not be discouraged. Keep voting for what you believe in, regardless of who you think will win the election or whom the media is touting at the current moment.

Remember that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is never a good plan.

And most importantly: never, ever waste your vote.

Piotr Buniewicz is a guest columnist at The State News and an elementary education senior. Reach him at buniewic@msu.edu.