Positives and Negatives of Third Parties

    When looking at Presidential elections, one usually only looks at the Republican candidate, and the Democratic candidate.  This can be attributed to the realization that one of those two will be the eventual President of the United States.  Although the country focuses virtually all of their attention on those two parties, there are many parties that have been given the name "third parties."  The largest and most known of the third parties are the Green Party, Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party.  Although these parties have virtually no chance of winning the Presidential election, many candidates from these parties maintain hope by focusing on spreading a particular message and gaining followers who feel similarly in their message.
    Many people who don't agree with third parties, say that candidates who run for President out of these parties are "spoilers".  One who is called a spoiler is someone who runs for President with virtually no chance of winning, and takes potential votes away from a more likely candidate.  Many American citizens consider Ralph Nader a spoiler, based on the outcome of the 2000 Presidential Election.  Nader is held responsible by many Americans for taking potential electoral votes that would have went to Al Gore.  The amount of votes that went for Nader instead of Gore was just enough to swing the election in George W. Bush's favor.  Nader maintains his stance that he runs for President based on principles in which he strongly stands for, and also maintains that he will keep running, disregarding the percentage of the American public which calls him a spoiler.
    While some people see third party candidates as potential spoilers for future American Presidents, others see third parties as necessary, and see the right to run for President as constitutional.  Many people in favor of third parties see the country as polarized between two parties.  Some would even go on to say that because of the way that the Presidential election is set up, citizens are left voting for the lesser of two evils.  People who can't relate to the Democratic and Republican parties take refuge in third party ideologies.  Although it is clear that their odds of winning the Presidential election is fewer than slim to none, people join these parties because of basic beliefs and principles in which they carry.
    I feel that third parties are completely necessary and reflect our constitutional framers beliefs in all men created equal.  The American public should not have to choose between the lesser of two evils, and should have the right to follow a third party because of shared beliefs.  I think that people who call Ralph Nader and others like him a spoiler are no more than sore losers, and would be willing to bet that everyone who feels that way is a democrat.  If it had been reversed, I am sure that Republicans would have adopted the term spoiler and used it accordingly as well.  So in conclusion, I am happy that there are people in this country willing to run for the Presidency based solely on spreading their beliefs and ideology.  The American public should not be forced to choose between two candidates that they do not share the same ideologies with.