A member of this very forum voted 3rd party simply because he thought his state was a shoe-in for Clinton, only to see it swing to Trump by a narrow margin.
It was me. It was a dumbass decision made due to immature idealism and based on polling and other data that didn't account for the hidden Midwest Trump voter who switched sides.
I'm considered mature for my age but this election taught me to grow up that much more - 3rd party leaning liberals and like myself should have gotten the piss slapped out of them and told "fuck your conscience" when it comes to something this fucking serious. Was Hillary a perfect canadate? No. But, for my belief and value system, she would have been a fuckton better than Trump.
In a perfect world you can try to vote 3rd party to make a change. But this election system isn't perfect, and this election was far too important to fuck around with. Liberal/Progressive 3rd partiers should have colesced around Hillary. Just like many conservatives swallowed their pride and voted for Trump. That's another reason why I think he had a advantage - people swallowed their pride and "stood by their man."
Instead, we argued over fucking insignificant shit (in the grand scheme of things) like "but...But...her emails..."
Look at that. Look at where that thing got us. Someone who is way more unethical than fucking emails. The DNC is fucking awful, backing a competent, slightly baggage filled, but uninspired canadate and did Bernie dirty but that's not so important now - we may be set back at least 4 years. If not longer.
If I voted Clinton I could at least say that I tried. I can't even do that and it sucks. It's embarrassing, I feel duped and it is my own damn fault.
It WONT happen again. Come the next election, I'm likely voting the way I should have.
The way that one opposed to a party should when their canadate is so dangerous. When nothing damning sticks to him. Someone who's delusional. Someone who's administration is shaping up to be even more antagonist to the press (no Donald, your inauguration numbers WERE fucking abysmal, stop fucking lying and screaming at the press for doing their job and telling the truth) than Obama. Someone who chooses (or has his team help choose) cabinet picks that appear either wholly incompetent or are highly questionable BEFORE they start their jobs.
I'm swallowing any fucking bullshit "pride" and voting straight Democratic ticket.
And you bet my ass I'll be doing the same come state election time.
While I hope Trump will do OK, I am not confident. At all.