US needs a third political party

[gamecockcat]

I know it may not happen in my lifetime but, currently, neither party really speaks for me and it's time for a third party to speak for those like me who, overall, are very near the middle of the political spectrum. I come down more Republican on fiscal issues but more Democratic on social issues (I know they sometimes overlap). Both parties seem to be run nationally by all black/all white thinking and I just don't know that many people who feel that way on every issue (or maybe I just avoid them at all costs). I increasingly see that both parties are driven by the more radical elements and that's not a good development in my opinion. Neither party seems willing to compromise.

I was/am concerned that one party will have all the power and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If the US had a viable third party who does speak for people like me and who consider each issue on its own merits rather than following strict dogma like both parties do nowadays, I think we'd be better off. Then the Democrats and Republicans would have to appeal to the third party to get things done. Generally, the best legislation is that which has been worked out to appeal to a wide cross section of Congress and not just one viewpoint ramming it through.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

or no parties at all.

 

[Kybluedude]

Agree wholeheartedly. It’s over the top partisan. Nothing gets done anymore. Term limits as well would truly help.

I was half tempted to write in Tom Selleck for Pres.

No parties is ok with me. Just candidates with no affiliations just a platform coming forward.

 

[Glenn's Take]

US needs to splinter like the old Soviet Union.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." - George Washington

FAREWELL ADDRESS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796

 

[KRJ1975]

Trump is basically third party. Gives no ***** about social issues, cuts taxes, spends money like it grows on trees, is anti illegal immigration, etc. That R beside his name is purely transactional.

 

[qwesley]

3rd party and term limits are cool but we need a fully-functioning accountable and honest media more than anything. Blatantly working for one party and the echo chambers are killing us.

 

[JRowland]

I know it may not happen in my lifetime but, currently, neither party really speaks for me and it's time for a third party to speak for those like me who, overall, are very near the middle of the political spectrum. I come down more Republican on fiscal issues but more Democratic on social issues (I know they sometimes overlap). Both parties seem to be run nationally by all black/all white thinking and I just don't know that many people who feel that way on every issue (or maybe I just avoid them at all costs). I increasingly see that both parties are driven by the more radical elements and that's not a good development in my opinion. Neither party seems willing to compromise.

I was/am concerned that one party will have all the power and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If the US had a viable third party who does speak for people like me and who consider each issue on its own merits rather than following strict dogma like both parties do nowadays, I think we'd be better off. Then the Democrats and Republicans would have to appeal to the third party to get things done. Generally, the best legislation is that which has been worked out to appeal to a wide cross section of Congress and not just one viewpoint ramming it.

Sounds like you are saying the US needs a party that is exactly like you. I'm sure a lot of people feel that way.

fwiw, if you dig into the ideological breakdown of the voting populace the "social liberal/fiscal conservative" (Bloomberg) type is one of the smallest segments of the populations. I'm not sure about 2020 yet but the exact opposite (social conservative/fiscal populist) was the largest identifiable vote share in '16.

 

[Franchise]

Given the simple majority system, how does a 3 party system not ultimately turn into a 2 party system through the inevitable joining of forces to get to 50.1%?

 

[gamecockcat]

Sounds like you are saying the US needs a party that is exactly like you. I'm sure a lot of people feel that way.

fwiw, if you dig into the ideological breakdown of the voting populace the "social liberal/fiscal conservative" (Bloomberg) type is one of the smallest segments of the populations. I'm not sure about 2020 yet but the exact opposite (social conservative/fiscal populist) was the largest identifiable vote share in '16.

You're probably right . But I'm surprised the opposite was the larger leaning and, after the past two presidential elections, I wouldn't put too much faith in polls.

Too many people, imo, vote based on one or just a very few issues (abortion, Orange Man, 'socialism', guns, etc.) but my purely unscientific guess is that, if truly quizzed on a host of other issues, they wouldn't be so dogmatic and vote straight party line. But if you're for, say gay marriage, at least on a national stage, you can't be Pro Life or anti illegal immigration and the same is true vice versa - can't be pro fracking AND Medicare For All. It just seems too black and white while almost every issue has nuances and grays. A 'moderate Democrat' or 'socially conservative Republican' is a fairy tale although I'm pretty sure there are many Americans who could correctly be identified as such.

As for a third party, IIRC, there are countries who function pretty well with a 3rd party without it joining one or the other. There are many issues I'd side one way or the other but neither party has a monopoly on good ideas or right and wrong. So, I'd flip back and forth depending on the issue and circumstances (and, of course, how much money some wealthy donor would slip into my bank account - it is politics, after all).

 

[BlueBallz_rivals30790]

or no parties at all.

I've been saying this for years, but it would never happen. I think there would be better representation, people would have to actually do some research when they voted and you wouldn't have a party bullying their members to vote on an issue if they aren't in line with it.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

I know it may not happen in my lifetime but, currently, neither party really speaks for me and it's time for a third party to speak for those like me who, overall, are very near the middle of the political spectrum. I come down more Republican on fiscal issues but more Democratic on social issues (I know they sometimes overlap).

There was a Libertarian candidate on your ballot. You should have voted for her, like I did. I’ve voted Libertarian in every presidential election since 1996.

 

[Deeeefense]

I think Ross Perot is close to what gamecockcat is talking about. He pulled equally from each party. He was competitive and would have won had it not been for many people that didn't vote for him because they didn't think he could win.

I think times have changed now, there is a great deal of divisiveness. Not sure what it will take to pull people back towards working together to solve the issues of the day but that's what is really needed.

 

[gamecockcat]

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." - George Washington

FAREWELL ADDRESS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796

Well said, George, and spot on.

 

[dgtatu01]

My thoughts:

- We need healthcare access for all Americans

- Drug possession and use should be decriminalized

- Marry whoever the eff you want

- Limit abortion to first trimester and increase sex ed and access to birth control

- Churches have absolute freedom

- Guns are legal with full background checks

- Taxes should be used to control inflation and limit vices

- There should be no limit to US Spending and debt issuance on infrastructure building as long as unemployment exists (full employment is the signal you are spending enough)

- I have no clue what we do about global warming or even if we should do anything about it, but it's real and we're are already spending are going to spend a lot of money fixing the damage it causes

- College debt should be able to roll into a bankruptcy. This would force college lenders to actually assess whether junior really needs a Bachelors in Philosophy or not and whether he has any chance in heck of ever paying the loan back.

- People should treat each other decently even if they are poor, rich, black, white, brown, smart, stupid, or a communist

Which party do I belong in?

 

[Elbridge]

I have no clue what we do about global warming or even if we should do anything about it, but it's real and we're are already spending are going to spend a lot of money fixing the damage it causes

I am a fiscal conservative and middle of the road on social issues (stay out of my life and I stay out of yours). Agreed with much of what you said until the quote above. Not trying to turn this thread into another global warming debate but Earth has been warming and cooling for +/- 4.5 billion years. Talk to any geologist that has not become politicized. To derive that humans have caused Earth to warm by using statistics of 100 plus years in over a 4.5 billion year period is beyond stupid and a statistical zero. If it is sunny outside tomorrow look up at that bright thing in the sky. It's the number one thing that determines how warm or cool Earth is and nothing else is a close second.

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

My thoughts:

- We need healthcare access for all Americans

- Drug possession and use should be decriminalized

- Marry whoever the eff you want

- Limit abortion to first trimester and increase sex ed and access to birth control

- Churches have absolute freedom

- Guns are legal with full background checks

- Taxes should be used to control inflation and limit vices

- There should be no limit to US Spending and debt issuance on infrastructure building as long as unemployment exists (full employment is the signal you are spending enough)

- I have no clue what we do about global warming or even if we should do anything about it, but it's real and we're are already spending are going to spend a lot of money fixing the damage it causes

- College debt should be able to roll into a bankruptcy. This would force college lenders to actually assess whether junior really needs a Bachelors in Philosophy or not and whether he has any chance in heck of ever paying the loan back.

- People should treat each other decently even if they are poor, rich, black, white, brown, smart, stupid, or a communist

Which party do I belong in?

You'd never fit with the current anti-science Republican Party. I remember reading one of Rush Limbaugh's books back in the day and he literally argued that global warming/climate change did not exist because God would not allow humans to destroy our Earth and environment. You would think that kind of Looney Tunes thinking would be some extremist outlier but he's practically a pillar of current conservative thought. Why worry about what the world will look like for our grandkids or great-grandkids because Jesus is coming back any day now, right? Just a few more years we swear hold tight y'alls. Unbelievably stupid and arrogant, but that's just how it is anymore.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

There was a Libertarian candidate on your ballot. You should have voted for her, I did. I’ve voted Libertarian in every presidential election since 1996.

Libertarianism works fine as a personal ideology. It can’t work as a National platform

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

Convention of States is the only way.

 

[gamecockcat]

You'd never fit with the current anti-science Republican Party.

You can't paint an entire political party with this brush. Part of the problem with our political discourse is exactly personified in your statement above - if you don't agree with me on every single issue, you're anti-science, a racist, a homophobe, a religious nut, a transphobe, a hater, a 'deplorable' (it works from the other side, too - don't get me wrong). The phrase 'settled science' is an oxymoron. Einstein was pretty damn smart. Was his Theory of Relativity settled science? Not since quantum physics. And string theory. And randomness theory. Scientific exploration demands that science is NOT settled.

Issues are NOT black and white. Being in a non-homogeneous society means there will almost always be some gray that exists in every issue, every situation. A 3rd party that recognized this fact and could be the driver of compromise between two parties rooted in political dogma would be a party I could get behind.

 

[blubo]

We’re on the verge of having only one party, with “elections” being a thing of the past.

 

[dgtatu01]

I am a fiscal conservative and middle of the road on social issues (stay out of my life and I stay out of yours). Agreed with much of what you said until the quote above. Not trying to turn this thread into another global warming debate but Earth has been warming and cooling for +/- 4.5 billion years. Talk to any geologist that has not become politicized. To derive that humans have caused Earth to warm by using statistics of 100 plus years in over a 4.5 billion year period is beyond stupid and a statistical zero. If it is sunny outside tomorrow look up at that bright thing in the sky. It's the number one thing that determines how warm or cool Earth is and nothing else is a close second.

It's ok to disagree. It's not ok to not be civil. I appreciate your civility.

 

[dgtatu01]

You'd never fit with the current anti-science Republican Party. I remember reading one of Rush Limbaugh's books back in the day and he literally argued that global warming/climate change did not exist because God would not allow humans to destroy our Earth and environment. You would think that kind of Looney Tunes thinking would be some extremist outlier but he's practically a pillar of current conservative thought. Why worry about what the world will look like for our grandkids or great-grandkids because Jesus is coming back any day now, right? Just a few more years we swear hold tight y'alls. Unbelievably stupid and arrogant, but that's just how it is anymore.

I'm a preacher. God will certainly allow us to destroy ourselves and our planet. We're experts at both.

 

[Backer cutter]

I know it may not happen in my lifetime but, currently, neither party really speaks for me and it's time for a third party to speak for those like me who, overall, are very near the middle of the political spectrum. I come down more Republican on fiscal issues but more Democratic on social issues (I know they sometimes overlap). Both parties seem to be run nationally by all black/all white thinking and I just don't know that many people who feel that way on every issue (or maybe I just avoid them at all costs). I increasingly see that both parties are driven by the more radical elements and that's not a good development in my opinion. Neither party seems willing to compromise.

I was/am concerned that one party will have all the power and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If the US had a viable third party who does speak for people like me and who consider each issue on its own merits rather than following strict dogma like both parties do nowadays, I think we'd be better off. Then the Democrats and Republicans would have to appeal to the third party to get things done. Generally, the best legislation is that which has been worked out to appeal to a wide cross section of Congress and not just one viewpoint ramming it through.

What we need is a wake up call, like a really good slap to the head. And we may have just gotten it.

 

[JumperJack]

We’re on the verge of having only one party, with “elections” being a thing of the past.

Exactly. Talking about a 3rd while we’ll be lucky to have 2 in 4 years.

 

[rick64]

The Dems and Rep don’t want a strong third party. They would take votes away from them.

 

[nerdcat_rivals308595]

I am a fiscal conservative and middle of the road on social issues (stay out of my life and I stay out of yours). Agreed with much of what you said until the quote above. Not trying to turn this thread into another global warming debate but Earth has been warming and cooling for +/- 4.5 billion years. Talk to any geologist that has not become politicized. To derive that humans have caused Earth to warm by using statistics of 100 plus years in over a 4.5 billion year period is beyond stupid and a statistical zero. If it is sunny outside tomorrow look up at that bright thing in the sky. It's the number one thing that determines how warm or cool Earth is and nothing else is a close second.

That’s a really uneducated reply. Get your head out of Rush Limbaugh’s butt and into a basic chemistry book.

 

[Elbridge]

That’s a really uneducated reply. Get your head out of Rush Limbaugh’s butt and into a basic chemistry book.

I'll put my educated credentials up to yours any day big shot. Typical response. Can't refute what was said so you just try to insult.

 

[ADJOUK22]

I'll put my educated credentials up to yours any day big shot. Typical response. Can't refute what was said so you just try to insult.

You can’t have a normal debate with people who are terrified of the sun monster.

 

[funKYcat75]

Serious question. Have there been any third party candidates who have won a Governorship? Seems like a good place to start.

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

My thoughts:

- We need healthcare access for all Americans

- Drug possession and use should be decriminalized

- Marry whoever the eff you want

- Limit abortion to first trimester and increase sex ed and access to birth control

- Churches have absolute freedom

- Guns are legal with full background checks

- Taxes should be used to control inflation and limit vices

- There should be no limit to US Spending and debt issuance on infrastructure building as long as unemployment exists (full employment is the signal you are spending enough)

- I have no clue what we do about global warming or even if we should do anything about it, but it's real and we're are already spending are going to spend a lot of money fixing the damage it causes

- College debt should be able to roll into a bankruptcy. This would force college lenders to actually assess whether junior really needs a Bachelors in Philosophy or not and whether he has any chance in heck of ever paying the loan back.

- People should treat each other decently even if they are poor, rich, black, white, brown, smart, stupid, or a communist

Which party do I belong in?

I think your comments are fair. I just wanted to add my thoughts.

All Americans currently have access to healthcare. The ACA attempted to cover all Americans with health insurance. Health insurance and access to health care are two entirely different things. I'm not sure what the answer is for health care, but I'm fairly certain having the federal government control it would be a huge mistake. The best strategy would probably be to try and introduce more free market forces into the health care, but at this point I'm not sure exactly what should happen.

Why should the government attempt to control your behavior? As long as you are not infringing upon the rights of another person, government should not treat you any differently than it does anyone else.

What exactly do you mean that government should control inflation through the use of taxes?

I completely disagree about government spending. If government could spend its way to creating wealth for its citizens, then socialist and communist countries would be the wealthiest on earth. Government creating artificial demand in the market place in order to create jobs is inefficient and leads debt and devaluation of the currency.

 

[warrior-cat]

We’re on the verge of having only one party, with “elections” being a thing of the past.

We will have elections to give the perception of the "people's choice" (sound familiar?) but, the results will be predetermined. This one has set the precedent.

 

[TurnipDaBeet]

or no parties at all.

Unless its a mashed potato party.

I’ll stick my richard knixon in dat!