I'm annoyed

[Occhidiangela]

Another myth.  In my state, if any party gets just 5% of the popular vote for a major office the party gets matching funds from the state up to 50% of the (optional) spending limits.  That is extra campaign money from taxpayers that the Democrats and the Republicans get all the time (if they agree to abide by the spending limits).  At the magical 15% or so mark, candidates can petition the media to give them equal access to televised debates. 

By that definition of a wasted vote, any vote not for the winner is a wasted vote.  My definition of a wasted vote is one made by an uninformed voter, or the one not made by the voter who never bothered to go to the polls.
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Some facts on Matching Funds

The third candidate receiving general election funding in 1980 was John Anderson.
(My mom was a volunteer on Anderson's campaign.)

In 1996 Ross Perot received partial general election funding as a minor party candidate.

In 2000 the Reform party received partial convention funding and Patrick Buchanan received partial general election funding.

I am guessing Nader didn't get the numbers he needed for Green matching in 2000?

Occhi