status quo ... right. There is no viable third party. That’s reality
At one time the Republican Party wasn’t viable, either. It was the Whigs and the Democrats. I’m not saying conservatives should bolt, just that things change and nothing lasts forever.
I think the mistake third parties make is that they form and go for the “big one” too quickly. They need to concentrate on lower elections first...say congress or state houses first taking time to begin to build a consensus
in the general populous. A fifty to 75 vote strong block of non aligned congressmen in the congress for example could really act as a strong fulcrum between republicans and Dem’s...despite the efforts of both parties to crush the interlopers. Eventually, with rough parity between Repubs and Dem’s, they would eventually have to deal with the non aligned block to get any meaningful legislation passed.
Even God sits in the space between the two opposing cherubim on the Ark; a strong non aligned block of third partied congressmen could also act as an ameliorating force between the two main parties. Eventually you work towards extending such a block in the senate...7 to 10 should be sufficient.
Such legislators should be strong in constitutional knowledge and strong in the knowledge of our nation’s founding heritage. They should be able to resist the temptations towards extra constitutionality in both the socialist and ultra conservative hotheads’ notions.
Would such men be villified and ignored at first by the established brokers in DC? Certainly....until their votes were needed on important legislation. Then at such times would these men act to truly preserve our union and constitution !
So for a true third party to thrive, we must start small. It would have been better served that men who gave 19 per cent ot their vote to Perot, had voted instead in such a way to to put 15 per cent of the congress into office who held the same principles as themselves.
Just one congress man from each state would give such a party 50 votes and a fairly stong position in the congress. The congress needs a conscience, a non aligned presence that dwells in the space between the two parties in the house and senate. They would be hated by all, yet like Nicodemous who approached Christ at night, secretly needed by all!