By Jim Arkfeld</p><p>In an earlier column, I mentioned that we all don't fit neatly into either the Democratic or Republican Party. With so many different issues, concerns, problems, and possible solutions, it is difficult for a single political party to offer one clear plan that fits each American voter.</p><p>Let's look first at the independent voter. Some people don't want to identify themselves with either of the two main political parties. One reason they might feel this way is that, while they might agree with some stands taken by a party, these voters are troubled by other positions taken by the party.</p><p>Another reason for not identifying with one of the parties is that these voters generally lack confidence in either major political party. This may be due to what seems like ineffectiveness or all of the bickering and name-calling that political parties often engage in.</p><p>Still another reason for being independent is because some voters want to truly examine each issue on its own merits and not try to be influenced by stands taken by political parties. This would be the true sense of being independent.</p><p>On election day, independent voters often split their vote among candidates of both major political parties and, perhaps third parties.</p><p>Now let's look at third parties. While many countries in Europe have many political parties, the United States has a two-party political system. Yes, we have more than two political parties, but throughout our history, our political system has been dominated by the influence of two main political parties.</p><p>The major reason we have just two main parties is because these parties have generally adopted the two basic approaches to governing our nation: conservative thought and liberal thought. </p><p>Our two main political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. However, we do have many third parties. Among these are the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the American Party, the Constitution Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, and the Natural Law Party.</p><p>Some third parties are much further to the political left or right than our main two parties. Other third parties focus on just one main issue.</p><p>One well-known leader of a third party is Ralph Nader of the Green Party. Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot have also led third-party movements in the U.S.</p><p>In the past, third parties have had little influence on national elections. The potential exists for a third-party candidate to have a big effect. Some of our presidential elections have been very close. The winner sometimes gets only slightly more than 50 percent of the vote. A third-party candidate who receives just 2-4 percent of the total vote could have a huge effect on the outcome of the election. If those votes are drawn away from a certain candidate, then the other candidate would gain the advantage and win the election. For example, most of the votes in the 2000 presidential election which went to Ralph Nader (2.74 percent of the total), probably would have gone to Al Gore, thus inadvertently giving an advantage to George Bush. There were strong differences of opinion concerning Nader's effect on the outcome of the race, however.</p><p>While these third parties don't have a major voice in our political process, they often serve a purpose of focusing the public's attention on certain issues. Often our two main parties will adopt a stand on issues taken by a third party. </p><p>Some voters feel that if they vote for a third-party candidate that they are "wasting" their vote because their third-party candidate may have only a very remote chance of winning. However, if that person is voting strongly-held philosophical beliefs, their vote is certainly honorable and legitimate.</p><p>Others voters with third-party leanings decide on Election Day to be more practical by not voting for their third-party candidate and reluctantly vote for a Democrat or Republican. They believe that this vote will have a more meaningful effect because their vote will help determine the eventual winner.</p><p>Independent and third-party voters serve an important function in the political process of the United States. In the next column, we will look at voter apathy.</p><p>Jim Arkfeld has taught secondary American government and American history. He is a teacher at Los Banos Junior High School.