Truest statement of the week

Desert Sage has argued previously that Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and the Green Party’s presumptive nominee, Jill Stein, should be permitted by the Commission on Presidential Debates to share the debate stage with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Johnson and Stein have both qualified for ballots in enough states to establish a numerical path to the electoral vote necessary to win the presidency. By definition, it is false to say that Johnson or Stein have no chance of winning, although the odds are obviously against them. Stein, in particular, would have to run the table in nearly every state where she is on the ballot. Nonetheless, their campaigns have demonstrated a level of organization and public support more substantial than matchup polling.
Opening up the political process to parties competing with the traditional duopoly will enhance our politics even if other parties do not win elections right away. Recognizing more ideas and critiques in political discourse expands what is possible in politics, and our stodgy traditional parties might be compelled to improve if they had to compete with parties that made credible appeals to the working class. Indeed, it is hard to imagine Trump’s populism being so effective if American workers had not been betrayed.



-- ALgernon D'Ammassa, "Greens, Libertarians need to be ready for media glare" (LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS).