This year’s major party nominees are disliked at historical levels. Donald Trump, the actual trainwreck of a candidate, is seen “strongly unfavorably” by about 53 percent of the nation, and Hillary Clinton, the establishment politician who seems to have a new scandal every other Tuesday, is seen “strongly unfavorably” by about 37 percent. This has led many to ask necessary questions, including the obvious: how did two such unpopular people pave the way to their respective parties’ nominations?
That’s a question we need to answer. We need to, in common ground, reevaluate closed primaries, superdelegates, Super PACs, money in politics generally, the two-party system that has led to unending gridlock through party sorting and many other institutions that are counterintuitive to the will of the people.
However, as important as these issues are, they are a problem for tomorrow. Today, we need to deal with the immediate threat: Donald Trump.
Some who express disgust with both candidates are turning to the alluring options of so-called “third parties,” the two most prominent being Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party.
Idealistic, ideological and unique, these two candidates and their respective parties present ideas that we ought to consider. Some, such as the Green Party’s commitment to renewable resources and the Libertarian Party’s commitment to personal freedom and self-ownership, ought to be introduced to mainstream discussion.
As good as some of these ideas are, however, there’s an inconvenient truth that all of their supporters must face: a third party will not win this year. And, to put it more clearly, a vote for a third party candidate today is a vote that will achieve nothing for the good of this country.
It is sometimes argued that a third-party vote is an investment in the future. And while that may be true, this specific “investment” is significantly costlier this year than it has been in the past. While tossing a protest vote against the system may have been a viable option back in 2012 (a year when both mainstream parties were competent options), this is not the year to launch an uncoordinated third party experiment.
This year, the stakes are simply too high. It’s just not the year to play around.
Currently, the higher-than-normal third-party vote is drawing more support from Clinton than from Trump. Which brings us to the main point: Hillary Clinton simply must win this election. The only real alternative is Trump, the populist, authoritarian-leaning billionaire who knows nothing of policy, scoffs at statistics and demonstrates no desire to embrace any semblance of nuance.
If you are keen to vote third party because you can’t stomach the idea of voting for the less-than-ideal Hillary Clinton, I implore you to hold your nose and vote for the Democrat, if not for yourself, at least for the people who would be directly harmed by a Trump presidency. Think of the millions of undocumented folks who would be deported by a Trump-led government. Think of the legal precedents that would be set by his potentially four Supreme Court nominees. Think of future generations, who would inherit a sicker Earth from a Trump administration whose position is that climate change is not a major, impending threat. Think of those who would suffer under a regressive tax plan that disproportionately hurts lower-income individuals.
Think of the border wall that Trump would attempt to force Mexico to pay for, and think of the international disrespect that would bring. Think of those in other countries who might be killed by a trigger-happy Trumpian foreign policy. Think of the racism that a Trump victory would enable. Think of our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community who would be targeted by his surveillance state. Think of the danger of the alt-right and the dangers of right-wing authoritarianism. Think of the endangered freedom of the press. Think of the irreversible damage he could do to our Constitutional system.
This message is especially important given the recent polling data suggesting that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are neck-and-neck. We need to collectively understand that a Trump victory is a legitimate possibility. And every voter who casts a ballot for a third party but prefers Hillary to Trump is essentially casting a vote for Trump.
Donald Trump is not a normal candidate. And this is not a normal year. As undesirable as many may find Hillary Clinton, this is not the year to throw out a protest vote and enable a Trump victory. The stakes are simply too high.
Yes, the system is corrupt, and yes, we can address that. And we need to address that. But first, we need to address the clear and present danger: we must make sure that our 45th President of the United States is not Donald Trump. Then, we can talk about change.
David Wohlever Sánchez is a Trinity sophomore. His column, “simple complexity,” usually runs on alternate Wednesdays.
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