Opinion - Will there ever be a viable third party?

from PolMach Forums
Well- what do you all think? Will there ever be a party other than the Dem's and Republicans that actually has a chance to win the White House? Why or why not?
politics
3,863 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top
Not until there is an evening of the boards that insures 3rd parties an equal amount of time to share their views and allows them exposure to the American people.

I believe that American politics is kind of on "auto-pilot" at the moment. Not many voters are involved (what few of them there are) and because of this, the two most well entrenched parties just run things as they please, not really scared of being voted out but more scared of not taking care of their peers lest they be attacked in public and exiled to the private sector.
Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
The winner take all system ruins it for third parties. The only way a third party could create a dent is if it raised enough money, like $200 million at least. Cuz money talks...
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think there has to be. Right now it seems like our choices are either/or, lessor of two evils, throwaway votes, or apathy. Something's gotta give.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't think there'll be, but the other political parties do hold enough influence to make them significant.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I believe there will be because third parties have had success in the past. I believe the democratic and republican parties have become too homogenous to fairly represent the majority of voters (don't believe me? Explain why, in 2002, 90% of the House seats ran either virtually or completely uncontested).

The truth is, voters are looking for new answers, new solutions. The major parties aren't providing them. As a result, I believe we will see not one, but two or three power shifts in the political parties over the next 30 or so years. Since 1992, at least one minor party candidate has controlled enough power to make a ripple in the election process, and I believe it's only a matter of time before savvy voters "rally around the flag" so to speak, and a candidate appears on the scene who is both electable and adequately funded.

As well, I believe the internet is the "x" factor. Unlike TV advertising, internet distribution of one's platforms comes only at the cost of time.

An interesting side note: please note the minor party results in New Hampshire, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, and Nevada (possibly Utah). I have very solid reasons to believe you will see some strong numbers from the Libertarian Party candidate (Michael Badnarik) in one, if not more of those states.

Excellent topic!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've said this in the past.... I think that for third-parties to take any measure of power, they have to start from the bottom up... try to win seats before you try to get a President... I think if their was a real effort to get some seats to put some meaure of pressure on the two major parties in Congress.

I think the golden age of the third party was the 19th century... a time when these parties got seats regularly in Congress.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've said this in the past.... I think that for third-parties to take any measure of power, they have to start from the bottom up... try to win seats before you try to get a President... I think if their was a real effort to get some seats to put some meaure of pressure on the two major parties in Congress.


Yes, and this is one thing that has impressed me about the Libertarian Party; that is exactly the way they are going about things.