Dear editor:
It is frustrating that in a country with the kind of talent we have and the kind of problems we are facing, the electoral system expects us to choose between a fat cat Republican complete with offshore bank accounts and a demonstrably inept Democrat.
We are always told that voting for a third party choice is throwing your vote away. But since voting Democrat or Republican is clearly doing just that, how about we all make this the year we vote for some real talent and let the chips fall where they may.
If you're willing to look at more liberal parties, have a look at the Socialist Party USA or the Green Party platforms. The Socialist Party USA is running Stewart Alexander and Alejandro Mendoza, a working stiff and a small businessman. The Green Party is running Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala, a doctor and a social worker. Both the Socialists and the Greens are mainstream parties in Germany and France,and both are as free as we are and doing at least as well, so the idea that the US would go up in smoke if one of them got elected is just political propaganda.
If you're more conservative, the Libertarian Party is running Gary Johnson and Jim Gray. Johnson is a former NM governor and early-on Republican candidate, Gray a superior court judge. The pro-life Constitution Party has Virgil Goode and Jim Clymer; Goode is a US congressman.
I had hoped there might also be the redoubtable Ron Paul, on another third party ticket.
If I have missed someone, it was unintentional. But my point is that among these other candidates are probably choices that could be a better match for what you believe in and what you want for America. You need to vote for them. And if they lose, so what? We are going to lose anyway with Romney or Obama.
The platforms for all these parties are out there on the internet. Just do it - this year.
Pete Westover
Russell