When I was a teenager & college student, it was very instructive to be involved with 3rd party campaigns and see first hand how much the Dems and GOP will link arms with each other to block out 3rd parties. All kinds of dirty tricks to keep them out of televised debates, keep them off ballots, keep them out of people's minds as a real possible alternative.

And it doesn't help that americans are shockingly well trained to recite the talking points they get handed. "A vote for a 3rd party is a wasted vote", "We need to change the mainstream party from within," "If you don't support the DNC now, you won't have A Seat At The Table later", all that old crap.