Lecture Notes: Third Party Candidates in the 2016 Election

Introduction

• 2016 election features highly disliked candidates: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
• Voter disillusionment with major party candidates leads to interest in third-party options.

Third Party Options

• Prohibition Party: Jim Hedges, known for disliking alcohol.
• Legal Marijuana Now Party: Dan Vaychek.
• Independent Write-In Candidate: Joe Exotic, eccentric with a private zoo for tigers.

Prominent Third-Party Candidates

• Libertarian Party: Gary Johnson.
• Green Party: Jill Stein.
• Over a third of young voters considered voting for third-party candidates.

Historical Precedent of Spoilers

• Teddy Roosevelt's 1912 run helped elect Woodrow Wilson.
• Ralph Nader in 2000 influenced Florida's outcome, affecting Al Gore.
• Third parties dislike the "spoiler" label.

Jill Stein

• Former doctor with a focus on environmental, LGBT rights, and income inequality.
• Flagship proposal: Canceling student debt, likened by Stein to "quantitative easing."
• Criticism: Misunderstanding of monetary policy and presidential authority.
• Ambiguity on issues like Brexit and vaccines, fueling conspiracy theories.
• Recorded music in 90s folk rock band "Somebody's Sister."

Gary Johnson

• Two-term governor of New Mexico, known for gaffes such as not recognizing Aleppo.
• Positive policies: Supports marijuana legalization, opposes death penalty and police militarization.
• Controversial positions: No minimum wage, eliminate federal departments (Education, Commerce, Housing).
• Tax policy: Proposes eliminating income/corporate tax for a consumption tax, criticized for complexity and bias against middle class.
• Climate change view: Long term, the sun will eventually destroy Earth.

Evaluation of Third-Party Candidates

• Lack of media coverage has shielded them from scrutiny.
• Both candidates' proposals lack detailed feasibility.
• Voting dilemma: Voters must choose the lesser of four evils, acknowledging flaws in any candidate they support.