As people have mentioned before, this is the problem with a two-party system. Voting for an independant is essentially throwing your vote away, but we'll never change the system if people don't vote more for the independants.

It's a catch-22 and individuals need to decide what's more important, keeping Bush out of the white house for another term, or sending a message to try and change the system down the road. Personally, I think keeping Bush out is a much more pressing concern.