Ever heard Wayne Allyn Root or Michael Jingozian?

Both are successful entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs of their own businesses.

Both were also, until recently, candidates for the Presidency of the United States – or at least for the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

Come to that, ever heard of the Libertarian Party?

It is one of many tiny fringe groups that stand official candidates for the Presidency. Of course, they have no chance of winning against the Democrats or the Republicans, but the Libertarians deserve credit for speaking out consistently in favour of free markets and free enterprise.

In the end, they selected as their candidate Bob Barr, a former Congressman who also founded his own business, with Root as Vice Presidential candidate.

To be honest, a vote for Barr will be a wasted vote, but it is speaks well of the American political system that his presence in the race will at least ensure that there is an unambiguously pro-small business voice in the selection of the most powerful person in the world.