What good can ever come from a bunch of third-party idealists running for President? A lot, actually. Because while you may forget about these alternative candidates even before the election, their best ideas live on and just might change society.

Democrats and Republicans generally like change only as a slogan and avoid the actuality whenever possible. That's why it wasn't the Ds and Rs but the Prohibition Party that first promoted giving women the right to vote, way back in 1872.

Children working in factories 12 hours a day and losing their skinny little fingers in the cogs of industry? Democrats and Republicans thought it a capital idea. Third parties didn't, and pushed for reform, as well as for other strange notions, such as public education, social security, unemployment insurance and minimum wages. Ruinous ideas all, according to the Democrats and Republicans, who later adopted those very ideas as their own.

Which crazy third-party idea will become the next political reality? Will Democrats appropriate the Greens' sustainable, alternative energy policy? Or will Republicans steal the Thermodynamic Law Party's idea of a Kelvinic Levitation wing that will create a shield of negative entropy around our nation making it impervious to hostile forces? One seems as likely as the other.

Race for Third Place

Brian Moore of Spring Hill, Fla., thinks the next third-party idea to be picked up might be the 30-hour workweek. That's one of his proposals as the presidential candidate for the Socialist Party USA.

"It's tough to be a radical today," says Moore. He's been called a traitor, confused with Stalin, and placed under surveillance, "because I fit under that category of being a threat to our nation, undermining our policies, advocating that people don't join the military, and things like that."

He'll be on the ballot in 11 states, yet he knows an electoral win is impossible. "But we can be in a position to pick up the pieces when the system fails," says Moore. "We are on the verge of economic collapse and catastrophic chaos, and hopefully the people will turn to a system like ours, as opposed to turning to a left wing or right wing dictator."

As President, Moore would:

End capitalism and replace it with a grassroots democratic socialism, in which decisions are made at the local level.

Direct the government to buy up businesses.

Eliminate industries that harm the environment.

Give people a right to housing, health care, education, and a guaranteed income if they can't work.

Pull out of Iraq, repeal the Patriot Act, and cut military spending.

Eliminate all sales, property and income taxes.

Prediction: He'll finish 7th in the presidential election, but Moore's best chance by far is the "catastrophic chaos" route to power.

Game Face

John Blyth of Chicago managed to win the presidential nomination of the Blyth America Party, and is now busy sorting out the issues for you. Gay marriage, non-issue; creating a workable solution for college football's Bowl Championship Series, big issue and he's all over it.

Best Jingle (Only Jingle)

James McCall of Toledo, Ohio, has composed two jingles for his presidential campaign, one asking seniors to give him $25 -- $50 if they can afford it. Want to jump on the McCall bandwagon? He's looking for electors in every state, and it'll only cost you $100.

Sweetest Slogan

"I ‘Love' you, and would like to be your President." That's the campaign slogan for Willie Carter of Fort Worth, Texas, who embraces the protection of Divine Providence in his policies addressing everyone's needs, from the homeless to the business community.

Bill of Wrongs

Free Soil Party presidential candidate Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff of Wauna, Wash., says that since the original Bill of Rights "permitted slavery of black people, both men and women, and all women of all races, wanton disregard for and exploitation of the environment, and other abuses of economic and political might," it's time to replace it. Her new Bill of Rights would include:

The right to healthy food; privacy and safety; full disclosure of anything potentially dangerous to human health or life; the right to prevent unwarranted disruptions of ecological quality; education for employment according to one's talents; procreative and sexual autonomy; and sex education.

Commander in Geek

James Lundeen of Columbus, Ohio, promises to be America's first Tech President. He's a physician versed in science, math and engineering, plus, his wife makes incredible, complex hats. Lundeen's Intermodal Transportation System will fix the USA's energy, environmental and economic problems by augmenting the interstate highway system with 45,000 miles of dual passenger trains for electric rail. And he knows how to e-mail.