Gary Johnson

In a Friday, May 27, 2016 file photo, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson speaks to supporters and delegates at the National Libertarian Party Convention, in Orlando, Fla. Omn Sunday, May 29, 2016, The Libertarian Party again nominated former New Mexico Gov. Johnson as its presidential candidate, believing he can challenge Republican nominee Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton because of their poor showing in popularity polls.

(John Raoux / AP)

To the Editor:

Why is it that when the discussion of the 2016 presidential election comes up, only two names are mentioned, even though there are three candidates that are on the ballot in all 50 states? Is there an agreement between the media and the two major parties that they want to keep this club exclusive? A recent Gallup poll placed Donald Trump's unfavorable rating at 59 percent, with Hillary Clinton's a lower but still dismal 57 percent. Other polls have found even higher negatives still for both candidates.

So in an election year that has two of its candidates with the lowest approval ratings in history, I have to wonder why nobody wants to mention that there is a third option: Gov. Gary Johnson.

Here we have a candidate who is economically responsible and socially tolerant, a middle-of-the-road view that so many Americans share. In fact, a record number of Americans, 39 percent according to a Pew Research Center poll, do not identify with either the Republican or Democratic parties and consider themselves to be independent.

There is a great awareness void that needs to be filled. Johnson is not being included in the media's political discussions or news articles. Many people that I have spoken with say they plan to vote for the "lesser evil" in order to prevent the "greater evil" from getting into the White House. People say they don't want to throw away their vote on a candidate nobody knows about.

An informed public would know that Johnson and his running mate, William Weld, were both two-term Republican governors in states that historically vote Democrat, and that this Libertarian candidate worked as a handyman in college, developing that small business into a multi-million dollar construction company employing over 1,000 people. He has experience in job creation, and as governor of New Mexico, he reduced the size of state government and left the state with a large budget surplus. His platform of "keeping the government out of the bedroom and out of your wallet" emphasizes personal freedoms and smaller government.

Even with minuscule media attention, Johnson is polling at 13 percent. This may in fact be because people are disgusted with the two candidates and are hungry for an alternative. In a recent Pew poll of voters under age 30, Johnson is at 22 percent. This demographic may be the most likely to use social media and the internet to seek out a third option when they are unhappy with the two mainstream candidates.

It is my hope that you will do a small part in giving the American people the opportunity to make an informed voting decision by acquainting the public with all three of the candidates' ideas, virtues, and visions for the future of this country.

Karin Falcone

East Syracuse

