Ed Asner recently moderated a debate by three third party candidates at Colorado University on the Boulder Campus, and I commend the Free and Equal Election Foundation for arranging that debate. The participants were Rogue De La Fuente representing the Reform Party, Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party, and Gloria LaRiva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

I’ve been reading some admonitions that a vote for a third party candidate is wasted, and I disagree. I’ve stopped watching the 24 hour news cycle, because they can’t get enough of Clinton and Trump. I became disgusted with the news shows when it was obvious they were being used by the master self-promoter Donald Trump to get free media coverage. The few times I’ve watched any news shows now makes it obvious the media is making its money talking about how disgusting Trump is and ignoring all of the information being released by Wikileaks et al confirming that Clinton has no regard for either laws or ethics.

I believe the two major political parties have proven they have abandoned any pretense that they are looking for decent people to nominate for national political positions. I eagerly tell people I’ve never been prouder to be an Independent. I won’t advise anyone who they should vote for, but I will say that I don’t think either of the two major parties deserve the loyalty many are still willing to give. Perhaps enough third party votes would be a message to them that they should begin to try to better.