If this upcoming general election does indeed give the American people a choice between a narcissistic lunatic and a war hungry corporate politician, the politics of fear will continue to hamper any movement towards a multi party system. In fact, we are already starting to see these fear tactics on both sides.

On the Republican side you have many sensible conservatives begging for a third option. Fortunately for them, it looks like Gary Johnson might actually be elevated to the national spotlight, giving those republicans with any sense of rationality a real choice they can feel comfortable with. But Fox News and the rest of the Republican establishment, which has already kissed the ring of Donald Trump, are spewing fear into those on the right who refuse to back someone who doesn’t represent them. Because that’s how Democracy is supposed to work, right? The line of attack is something along the lines of, “If you vote third party, you’re giving the election to Hillary Clinton and she’s worse than Donal Trump!” This is how the two party system remains in place.

On the Democratic side you hear the same argument used against people who support Bernie Sanders. Keep in mind that many people who support Sanders are independents and have no allegiance to the Democratic party. But when Sanders supporters suggest they will either write in Bernie’s name, vote for Jill Stein of the Green Party, or even vote for Johnson of the Libertarian Party, everyone loses their minds. All the liberal-minded news networks and high level party members yell out, “This will get Donald Trump elected! Do you really want that to happen?” Usually the fear tactics work and the disaffected on both sides apathetically cast a vote for someone they know doesn’t represent them just because they fear or dislike one party’s option more than the other. Fear wins out and the two party system remains in place.

This year when both nominees are historically disliked by the majority of the country, the politics of fear will be in full effect. As someone who genuinely thinks that both options will give us more war and death, it’s difficult for me to cast a ballot for either of them in good conscience. I’m a Sanders supporter, so I know that my views align more closely with Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump. That’s not even a question. But I know deep down that my views more closely align with Jill Stein and perhaps Gary Johnson, especially on the topic of military intervention. I also know that the two party system must end and it needs to end yesterday in order for Democracy to work. If I bow down, the two party system remains in place and the status quo prevails. On the flip side, I stand up to the status quo, vote for what I believe in, and then potentially get blamed for a Trump Presidency. Will fear of Trump and Clinton make voters bow their heads once again?