Jameson, I am a rational, simple person. To discount a vote on the premise that it doesn’t directly lead to the winner is faulty logic. If Hillary or Donald want to win, their course is clear: convince the most people to believe in one set of principles/plans or another.

A vote is meaningless only when a single outcome is perceived as the only acceptable one. I believe our republic will survive a Trump win. I believe it will survive a Clinton win. I would prefer we have a prospective leader who might bring enough skill and support to address pressing problems, but these two people are losers. I will concede that it looks as if Trump would be worse, but I am not even convinced of that. Hillary has more chance to press forward on her agenda, an agenda to which I object in many ways.

So, vote third party. Vote your platform. Vote your conscience. The winner this time, in my opinion, is going to be made inconsequential by the system.

At least a strong third party vote and turnout has an effect on both major party platforms, which is what we want, right?