An opportunity for Alaskans to start momentum in 2016 -- vote Libertarian

Presidential elections typically elicit cantankerous, but harmless, vinegar for the "other side's" candidate. The 2016 election cycle, however, has been more vitriol than vinegar.

And vitriol is not being lobbed exclusively at the other side. There is more tension and infighting within Democrats and Republicans than I have seen in my lifetime. On the left, consider the stark contrasts, in both demographic and policy, between supporters of Senator Sanders to those of Secretary Clinton.

Most of my Democrat friends were in the Sanders camp and, despite Clinton emerging as the presumptive nominee, are still #feelingthebern. Many refuse to get behind Clinton. Similarly, most of my Republican friends are not sure what to do with Trump. For myriad reasons. With only die-hard exceptions, those supporting Trump do so with a hesitant, hedging look (how I imagine these same friends would appear forcing down a quinoa-and-kale smoothie).

My friends are in good company. Anyone who has watched a news cycle or checked their Facebook news feed in the last year has undoubtedly learned no shortage of shortcomings with and virulent adjectives for both candidates. Recent polls show Trump and Clinton with an unfavorable rating of 61 percent and 56 percent, respectively. These numbers continue to vacillate up and down, but never seem to trend in a more favorable direction for either candidate.

We deserve better options.

Good news: we have that option. We just need to discard our fear of "wasting" our vote. That once-conventional wisdom will only hurt us.

The two-party system puts most voters — on the right and left alike — into a prisoner's dilemma. They fear voting for a third party because their vote will help the "other side" will win. (Republicans will recall Ross Perot in 1992 and Democrats the Nader Nadir of 2000.) Independents too, feel pressured into supporting the Republican or Democrat closer to their ideals.

All of us are creatures of habit and routine. It's an ominous prospect to disrupt the status quo, especially when the stakes are as high as they are this election. We learn how to manage and cope with a status quo while it slowly hurts us. But necessary momentum toward progress can only build when enough people, fed up with a selection of illusory options, are brave enough to break the entrenched status quo and demand what they deserve, not what they're forced to accept.

There is a critical mass of voters who detest the presumptive GOP and Democrat nominees. These voters can disrupt the two-party system. This year, there is a strong third ticket available thanks to the Libertarian Party: Gary Johnson and running-mate Bill Weld. Johnson was a two-term Republican governor in liberal New Mexico. Similarly, Weld was a two-term Republican governor of even more liberal Massachusetts. Both have successful, effective records in their respective states. Investigate for yourself. These aren't "fringe" candidates, either. GOP presidential nominee and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has gone on the record saying he would endorse the Libertarian ticket this year if Gov. Weld was the presidential nominee but holds short of an endorsement for the time being as he is still researching Gov. Johnson. Regardless of whether Mitt Romney's opinion carries any weight with you, the point is the ticket is gaining mainstream attention and momentum. Here in Alaska, the Libertarian ticket is particularly appealing given its overwhelming emphasis on small government. While governor, Johnson's threshold question in response to proposed legislation was whether government should be involved in the first place.

If our last gubernatorial election was any indication, Alaskans aren't afraid to break the status quo and vote for a third party candidate. Let's continue this trend. This goal will be effectuated one step at a time.

The first step is for enough Americans to support Johnson in polling. The Commission on Presidential Debates requires a polling average of at least 15 percent for a candidate to be included in presidential debates. With the span of an entire summer season remaining between now and the first scheduled debate on September 26, Johnson is trending strongly toward inclusion. Real Clear Politics reports that an average of recent polls has Johnson at 8 percent against Clinton and Trump. Some polls have him as high as 11 and 12 percent. It is plausible that Johnson will be part of the debates this year. Other steps will follow if we keep the momentum going.

As Alaskans, let's help frame a new status quo and be the first state in decades to designate our electors for a third-party candidate. Please don't vote based on fear. Let's do our part to build momentum, disrupt the two-party system, and put Alaska's electoral votes in the hands of the best candidates.

Peter J. Caltagirone is an Anchorage resident originally from San Diego and a trial lawyer licensed in five states. Though a registered Republican, he is breaking party lines this year and voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson for president.