There are lots and lots and LOTS of 3rd party's, but hardly anyone will ever vote for them because they are smart enough to want their vote to actually matter. This isn't new either, it goes right back to the beginning when the founders, intentionally or not, effectively created a 2 party framework.
By creating a winner take all system with no chance of coalition government, there is simply no room for competitive 3rd party's. Even in parliamentary systems 3rd party's often struggle to remain relevant. In our system they are squeezed out from the get go.
The ‘lesser of two evils’ BS still doesn’t fly for the more open minded around here. Say howdy to the GOPe plantation bosses for me; but they sure as shit ain’t doing anyone any favors these days.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We hear this every election cycle and the result is the same. Plenty of 3rd party's exist, and all fail. The only thing a 3rd party can do is occasionally play spoiler in contests where the 2 real competitive party's are extremely close.
General elections in a 2 party system are not an affirmative endorsement of any candidate or party, they are simply a choice between the only 2 options that can win.
Over 200, and your point being? The two parties are the solution to all our problems? Please.
It’s been the 3rd parties that bring the new blood and new ideas to the dialog. They’re the ones that make people start to sit-up and take note; start the process of “Hey, that’s right”.
What were the differences between the two parties the last few elections? “You have nothing to fear from an Obama presidency”, the man who banned ‘assault weapons’ in his State, neither could reference, nor articulate the Constitutional basis to say ‘let’s rein this back’
Who’s the one ‘wasting their votes’, dumping their convictions so THEIR guy hopefully wins?
It’s the ‘only 2 parties can win’ schtick that’s the killer here; be glad you voted for the GOP, the same one that bent over from the start. I’ll be content I voted other, and can rightfully give the bent-over a firm kick in the ass for staying on the plantation in hopes their chains rest lightly on the Benedict Arnolds in their own party.