It's also for downballot legitimacy since there's this whole "well they never win so why bother" attitudes. You want PSL / Greens on your city coucil get you better material conditions at home? Local wages. Cost of housing. Presidential races are a way to show that. But if no one tries because they're too apathetic it perpetuates "they won't win so why bother" into a vicous self defeating circles. Then the Dems play "you have no where to go".

Yes you need to do more thab vote. As lib Jon Stewart said it is a lunch pail day in and day out job. It is a sacrafice to serve and build that community and build that trust and build coalitions. Activism doesn't start and stop with voting. The system runs on consent - aka votes. That is the one rule. We must consent. They say the quiet part out loud if you are listening and paying attention - they hope you don't. Yes our elections are shams because they try to railroad people into the D/R clownshow. There are options, however difficult they try to make and they aren't always on the TV as the owners of media have a conflict of interest. That is where on the ground activism, organizations, word of mouth and independent publishing works best. I'm not saying stop doing your activism and community work. That's the lunchpal day in and day out grind we need. Just in your work, and for yourself help put a dagger in the Empire by actually voting NON COMMITTED and with a party who is close to your values.

What do you have to lose in voting for a 3rd party anyways? A bit of time to vote? Think of it as critical support. There's only so much they can bullshit.