Posted on 11/02/2002 5:35:30 AM PST by Pern
... There is nothing in our founding documents that says we must be a two-party nation, either Democrat or Republican ...True. But different kinds of electoral systems encourage-support-sustain different kinds of political formations: e.g. proportional representation encourages multi-party systems (our European brothers and sisters). Our system--which is specified in our founding documents--tends to encourage a two party system. So let us all ignore this nice old lady, or simply nod and smile patronizingly at her, and go on about the grim business of governing this troubled republic.
Also, the American electorate is a big part of the problem. Our form of government assumes people care.
People who support a "third party" need to realize it's much like the "third world" trying to catch up to the rest of the world. There's a long road to generating a big enough base to get recognized. It involves a lot of work and would not happen in an instant. Third parties often want recognition on the national scale without laying the groundwork for it. That's why they fail.
The current two majority parties or having some real problems, Dems especially. They might be in serious trouble over the next decade. There is an opportunity for another group to take thier place. I really think Perot could have made a splash in '92 if he wasn't, well...Perot.
Rather than talking about splitting off from the Republican Party to form a third party under the argument that the Republican Party is really just the Democratic Party in disguise, what dissatisfied conservatives should do is work to build up the existing party back to conservatism. If you think the Republican Party is invaded by liberals, then work to push them out! But, we must absolutely be careful not to split our cause.
I am of the mind that, rather than start dividing on the Right, we ought rather aggrivate splits in the Left. The Left in general, and the Democratic Party in particular, is made up of groups with a wide variety of agendas loosely tied together for the sake of spreading their radicalism. We should think of ways to split THEM into third parties, not ourselves, and then push the leftists in our own party to join them. That is far more viable a solution than splitting ourselves up and expecting to make any real progress, IMHO.
There is nothing in our founding documents that says we must be a two-party nation, either Democrat or Republican.
True, but that is what has evolved. Yes, the two parties and media have made it difficult for third parties to get any traction. But what is the solution and alternative? Assuming that (not likely) the parties make it easier for minor party participation, shall we end up with something closer to the popular and unstable European system of coalition governments? What about the electoral college? Wouldn't a plethora of smaller parties require runoffs to see which candidate garnered a majority? The current arrangement stinks, but I believe it smells the least.
He got Clinton instead. Third parties are just spoilers... nothing more.
I tend to call them “the fools party”.
Nope, which is why we have several dozen parties.
Just so happens that two of them get 98% of the votes.
Look at how they got there and you might begin to earn their slots.
How true.This article says it so well. If enough people vote third party, maybe some will begin to see the light, evaluate what the real issues are, and get the dissenters together on common ground.
I'm going Green in Massachusetts because (1) the Green Party Governor's candidate, Jill Stein is articulate, intelligent, and informed. and (2) I do care about the environment, and really believe the Greens will eventually see the light that unrestrained immigration is bad for the environment and other things.
Here is my take on politics There is no Constitutional justification, or encouragement for us having a two party system.
So why do we have this ugly situation? Two political gangs, the Republicans and the Democrats have taken over the political system. They divide the political spoils between them and make sure no outside candidate, or third political party can ever get elected-with a few minor exceptions.
I mostly vote for the stupid, politically inept, anti labor Republicans, because I feel they do less damage to the country and family, and are more suppportive of our Constitution.
So you can't really expect either gang to represent you, unless you are a member in good standing, or can buy the influence, either with money, or by delivering votes.
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