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Who are the third party candidates?

Although all three presidential debates took place without the Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein, both are still campaigning and making some head-way with voters.

According to a recent IBD/TIPP poll Johnson has been polling at 7.7 percent and Stein has been polling at 4.4 percent, much lower than both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Because their numbers in the polls have been so low, these candidates have not been major media concerns, which is why The Lasso wants to inform you about other voting options.

Government Experience

Johnson served as the Governor of New Mexico from 1994 to 2003 and ran for the presidency after winning the Libertarian Party’s nomination in 2012.

Stein served as a Town Meeting Representative in Lexington, Massachusetts in 2005 and 2008. The Green Party nominated Stein for the presidency in 2012 and Stein ran for Governor of her home state, Massachusetts in 2002 and 2010; losing all three elections.

Taxes

Johnson plans to end unfair or tricky tax policies and implement the “replacement of all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax,” which will determine how much in taxes you will pay based off how much you spend in a year, not earn.

Stein wants to “rewrite the entire tax code to be truly progressive,” helping low-income and middle-class families with tax cuts and raising taxes for the “richest” Americans.

Legalization of marijuana

Johnson believes “the War on Drugs has been an expensive failure” and the U.S. government should not prevent states from legalizing the use of marijuana.

Stein states that she believes in the legalization of marijuana and federal aid for drug addicts seeking treatment.

Unemployment and minimum wage

Johnson states on his website that he and his vice president candidate will create nationwide job growth for Americans, but does not provide any details on how he plans to do this.

Stein believes employment should be a granted right for citizens, stating that as a last resort “the unemployed would have an enforceable right to make government provide work.” She also plans to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Climate change

Johnson takes a more laid back stance saying climate change “probably” exists and explains how the U.S. government has wasted funds and time that should have been spent protecting the American people from “real harm.”

Stein vehemently believes in climate change and plans to “enact an emergency Green New Deal to turn the tide on climate change, revive the economy and make wars for oil obsolete.” The goal through Stein’s plan would be for the U.S. to transition to 100 percent clean renewable energy by 2030 and she claims in the process she will create 20 million jobs for Americans.

Education

Johnson believes local communities should be the ones to determine their children’s education and plans to end Common Core and the federal Department of Education.

Stein wants tuition to be free for the education of Americans from kindergarten all the way through college, and she plans to abolish student debt and prevent privatization of the public school system.

Women’s healthcare

Johnson believes women have a right to abortion and government should not restrict that right.

Stein believes abortion should be encompassed in health care and women have a right to abortion and should have easy access to free birth control.

Foreign relations and the military

Johnson wishes to maintain healthy relationships with American allies and wants to restrict military usage saying he will only “send our brave soldiers to war when clearly authorized by Congress after meaningful, transparent deliberation and debate.”

Stein wishes to cut military spending by 50 percent and shut down over 700 foreign military bases. Stein wishes to “ensure a just transition that replaces reductions in military jobs with jobs in renewable energy, transportation and green infrastructure development” all while keeping strong relations with American allies.

Health care system

Johnson has very vague information on his campaign website, but it can be understood he is not a fan of Obama Care and supports a free market health care system.

Stein has proposed to end health care insurance and create a “Medicare for All” single-payer public health program for all people including immigrants and put an end to co-pays, deductibles and premiums.

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