Paul,  Nobody is fooling anyone in the Libertarian or Green Party.  We know that neither Gary or Jill will be elected.  The point is to build the party so it has the numbers to initially effect issues, policies, and elections and continue to grow.  Your point of open primaries, ranked voting, and instant run-off exemplifies exactly what I am saying, those are Progressive issues!  If today's progressives were actually like yesterday's Progressives they would be in the streets marching, forming committees, effecting legislation and the status quo to get it done.  Eventually the cacophony would be so loud that one or both parties would be co-opting those issues to get the Progressive vote (that is why they disappeared).  Today's progressives?  Vote democrat, work from within, we can't take a chance that a republican will be elected.  He/she will turn the clock back.  Blah, blah, blah.  It might affect the stock market is the most likely true response.