Well... Ak... I'm not so sure that educating people on the parties will solve the problem entirely. The parties need to move a bit toward the center and start looking at issues more realistically. Of course the best way for that to happen is for people to start looking at them more seriously.
The two biggest elections in my state had terrible choices for both Republican and Democrat... I actually voted Green for the senate just to make a point... but for governor I couldn't vote for the third party loons.
The choices for the third parties were answering specific policy questions with ideological formulas. Only the Greens gave any real solutions... and they were radical for the most part. The Libertarians were vague. The Constitution Party candidates were spouting some interesting economic obsurdities. And Natural Law didn't even bother.
It's give and take. Third parties will always just be a medium for sending messages to the big parties until they start learning realism.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

I may be overly optomistic but I am holding out hope that one day a 3rd party (hopefully the libertarians) will rise up and challenge Repubs & Dems.

You might be right though, they may just always remain a way to vote if you are dissatisfied and want to send a message.

The Reform Party was doing a good job until Perot went nuts and Buchanon crashed them into the ground.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

See that is why I have hope for a 3rd party. All it takes is 1 or 2 prominent figures saying that they are going to start a new party in order for it to get the publicity that it needs.

This may not be the best example, but say for instance John McCain said that he was tired of the Republicans and he was forming his own party, or joiining one of the already active 3rd parties and then lets say he brought in Joe Lieberman to be his running mate for the presidency.....dont you think that would bring HUGE attention to a 3rd party? Possibly even big enough to have some of the other candidates who are say for instance more moderate in both parties to change their affiliation to that party??

I know I may be dreaming, but I figure if Perot and Buchanan could do it, and if Perot who was VERY competitive in 92 could do something like that, then could some even more prominent politicians who are tired of the entire current political scene??

These people need girlfriends...

What makes you think they don't have girlfriends?

I have a girlfriend and she would follow me anywhere...

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"In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule." - Nietzsche

Your a lucky man. I have been trying to get out of this state for awhile now but my girlfriend doesnt want to leave the state her family lives in so we are stuck in this (*)(*)(*)(*) hole until I can find a way to convince her to leave.

Although here's an example that provides some hope:

Throwing the Bums Out

How a small-town businessman sparked an anti-incumbency movement in Pennsylvania--by spending just $183.47--and what it means for national politics.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/116756.html

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

Did he start the wave, or did he ride it?

Kudos to him, especially for choosing to challenge incumbents in the primaries, where a small number of people can make a real difference. But I'm dubious how much legs the movement will have in an election cycle where there isn't a ready-made tidal wave of dissatisfaction already formed.

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Man up.

Some Thoughts on What to Do After the United States Implodes

"Another matter will be the avoidance of the degeneration of the revolution into internecine fighting between various revolutionary forces or the seizure of central power by any particular faction thereby establishing a new, tyrannical state. This matter necessitates the implementation of radically decentralized social system. Every faction should become sovereign within its own geographical areas. Different communities should be allowed to organize themselves in whatever manner they choose. Large metropolises can be carved up into autonomous districts reflecting the cultural, ethnic or ideological identity of the locals. One town can be a monarchy, the next a democracy, the next communist, the next fascist, or whatever. Sovereign communities could then combine into regional defensive or trade alliances similar to the leagues of free cities that arose during the late medieval period." What the author predicts isn’t the total abolition of the state, but it’s a step in the right direction."

Rest of article at:

http://www.attackthesystem.com/after.html

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer