Two sides of the coin | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Re "Do your duty: Exercise your right to vote" (Opinion, Oct. 23):

How can "young and minority voters" voice our concerns and make critical decisions about our country's future, when the popular presidential candidates represent two sides of the same coin? Yes, there are some differences between the Republican and Democratic party platforms— mostly human-interest topics, such as gay marriage, women's rights, and health care.

But what about Jill Stein, presidential candidate for Green Party? What about Rocky Anderson of Justice Party, or Gary Johnson of Libertarian Party? These candidates more accurately reflect the diversity of our country's voices. Yet television and print news never discuss these candidates' platforms with as much zeal as those of Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.

It is impossible to pigeonhole the heterogeneous diversity of our country's voices into either Republican or Democrat formats. This is why I, a 22-year-old college student, have little enthusiasm for this election year.

The candidates who would reflect my voice in office don't stand a chance in this biased two-party system. I would rather stay silent by not voting than tell a lie by voting for either Romney or Obama.

Sara Germain

Salt Lake City