I actually started a thread about politics this morning then decided not to. I was saying that as a fader, I wasn't so sure what to do about voting. I don't personally think the answer lies in simply "throwing the bums out" and going back-and-forth from Democrats-to-Republicans-to-Democrats-to....
While I don't think the answer is simply in a "third" party either, voting outside of the two major parties for any other party or independent candidate sends a message that more is expected from these guys.
I am mostly a flaming liberal (flaming in that I can voice my liberalism without cowering) but I have many conservative beliefs. I also feel that most Americans don't pay attention enough to really think they even can vote outside of the two parties or else they feel their vote is wasted. 2% for the Green Party or the independent candidate can double to 4% eventually, and keep growing until they listen. If even a small percentage of people went out and voted after learning the real issues, the bums would be out and the new regime would try harder to listen or know they will be out later.
But I go back to being a fader, not wanting to give the JW's ammunition to say I DF'ed myself. So I stay out of politics to keep communication lines open, and I feel that I am just as bad as the rest of them that don't bother.
Electing Obama showed the Americans that they can get the "impossible" candidate in there. But he really isn't any different than H.Clinton would have been. Now that they know they can put whoever they really want in office, I hope the people wake up a bit and start doing it on a regular basis. But nah, it will go back to the same.