I completely agree with what you said, especially regarding the two-party system and independents.
Unfortunately, that catch-22 is complex and has multiple facets: the best time (IMO) to vote for the independents is *exactly* when they can affect an election. If they were a non-factor, who would listen to them? This is the time when the indies actually have a chance to gain influence, in actual offices they can be elected to (as happened in Germany with the Green Party and recently in Japan with the Socialists). On the other hand, if the party they most threaten makes some fundamental changes before the election, maybe people might return to support them. I'm more of a "believe it when I see it" guy: they've had four years to make or push for changes and virtually nothing was accomplished. I won't fall for that, "If you vote for me now, this time it will be different," BS.
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Unfortunately, that catch-22 is complex and has multiple facets: the best time (IMO) to vote for the independents is *exactly* when they can affect an election. If they were a non-factor, who would listen to them? This is the time when the indies actually have a chance to gain influence, in actual offices they can be elected to (as happened in Germany with the Green Party and recently in Japan with the Socialists). On the other hand, if the party they most threaten makes some fundamental changes before the election, maybe people might return to support them. I'm more of a "believe it when I see it" guy: they've had four years to make or push for changes and virtually nothing was accomplished. I won't fall for that, "If you vote for me now, this time it will be different," BS.