Gallup: Majority of Americans think ‘major third party is needed’ in political system

[Michie]

CV NEWS FEED // A recent Gallup report has found that a majority of Americans “think a major third party is needed” in the political system, but the implications behind their sentiments are not necessarily clear.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans in the Gallup poll responded that a third major party is needed because the Democrat and Republican parties do not do an adequate job representing American citizens.

However, according to the Gallup article on the findings, “it is unclear whether they are genuinely expressing a desire for a third option or are simply frustrated with the two existing parties.”

A graph of the poll responses showed that in the converse, 37% of participants agreed with the statement that “Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people,” an uptick of three percent from 2023.

According to the graph, 58% of participants who this year responded that a third party is needed is a decrease from 2023, when 63% responded the same.

Support for a third party from Democrats in this group has increased from last year, when 46% agreed, to this year, when 53% agreed that a third party is needed.

Continued below.

Gallup: Majority of Americans think ‘major third party is needed’ in political system

CV NEWS FEED // A recent Gallup report has found that a majority of Americans “think a major third party is needed” in the political system,…

catholicvote.org

 

[mourningdove~]

I've agreed with this sentiment for decades; we even voted Ross Perot back in 1992. We wanted a third party way back then. So why wasn't one started years ... decades ... ago? Seems many folks have been wanting this for years.

 

[seashale76]

I've been saying it for years- and I usually vote third party.

 

[Wolseley]

We wanted a third party way back then. So why wasn't one started years ... decades ... ago?

Because the two major parties write the election laws. And they have manipulated the system until it's virtually impossible for any candidate to have any realistic chance at winning, unless he or she is a member of those two major parties.

The system is not broken. It's been hijacked by political parties. And we have allowed them to control our elections for decades. It's a travesty that George Washington, among others, warned us about; but we allowed it to happen anyway.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I've agreed with this sentiment for decades; we even voted Ross Perot back in 1992. We wanted a third party way back then. So why wasn't one started years ... decades ... ago? Seems many folks have been wanting this for years.

Actually starting a third party and launching it isn't an easy thing. The Two big parties have set up their roadblocks, but there is way more to it than that. It's a combination of a compelling idea, a felt need, a dedicated group of skilled organizers in it for the long haul, local AND national presence, some big name candidates, and a slew of money. Without all of that a third party is going to remain a tiny thing or a short lived thing. We have the perennial Socialist Worker's Party (around forever) and the Libertarian Party (around forever) and Perot's party (a flash in the pan) as examples.

I'm pulling for the American Solidarity Party, but it ain't gonna actually launch into prominence this year. They have a great idea behind it, which is the internationally successful Christian Democratic Party. Lots of good history there. Lots of intellectual basis for a centrist party that should appeal to more than half of the country.

AND there is a felt need for something other than the parties of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. A majority of Americans, according to Gallup, wish there was a major third party. Some other recent polling is showing that millions of Christians don't want Trump or Harris and are going to stay home on election day. I would say there IS a felt need, more than even four years ago. Some of it is disgust at the Big Two party picks, and some of it is disgust at their platforms. People DO want change.

The dedicated organizers for the long haul? The Big Two parties have that in every precinct in America, but paid and volunteer, door knockers, get out the vote, sign putter uppers, precinct conveners, people that go to district and state and national conventions. These are the political hack people. It's kind of like the Communist Party in China. There are a few million of them, dependable folks who put their party up there every day and month and year. To launch a political party is going to need not merely a thousand such people, but at minimum ten thousand. That will need to rapidly grow to a hundred thousand for any such party to launch. I'm not talking about just voters, but skilled organizers, many of them paid. Without that you don't get local or national presence.

And who aside from Ross Perot, and this year RFK Jr, are actual big name candidates? Eight years ago a Republican named Evan McMullen launched a third party bid to oppose Trump and Hillary. Who? Evan McMullen had a sliver of a chance IF he could get Utah electoral votes and the other two didn't get the needed 270 electoral votes. But he didn't win in Utah and had zero electoral votes. Why? Because nobody had ever heard of him. And he's like vanished now. The American Solidarity Party is running Peter Sonski this year. Who? Who did the Libertarians run last time? Who did the Socialist Worker's Party run last time? Nobodies.

Oh, and a slew of money's gonna be needed. Years long media presence is going to need hundreds of millions of dollars. The big media don't have the desire or time to promote a third party if that third party doesn't feed them cash. The Republicans feed them cash. The Democrats feed them cash. Big Media is made up of predominantly Democratic Party sympathizers but for the money they will do a tiny bit for the Republicans. They do nothing for the Socialist Worker's Party or the Libertarian Party. No money.

How does one get money and big name candidates and dedicated skilled organizers overnight? There's the rub. You are small potatoes and I'm small potatoes and between us we aren't even a small order of Fries from a fast food place. I'd say there is a real and substantial felt need for a centrist political party this year. AND I think the American Solidarity Party does have a winning idea behind it. But it isn't launching this year.

Some of that is that the two Big Parties always suck all of the oxygen out of the room. Gotta vote Trump to stop Kamala. Gotta vote Kamala to stop Trump. Those are captivating, even compelling, memes. Most people have bought into one of those memes. But in doing so they are throwing their votes away. The OTHER WAY of stopping Kamala is to vote for a better candidate. The OTHER WAY of stopping Trump is to vote for a better candidate. And that is the only way of stopping them both.

 

[RileyG]

I've agreed with this sentiment for decades; we even voted Ross Perot back in 1992. We wanted a third party way back then. So why wasn't one started years ... decades ... ago? Seems many folks have been wanting this for years.

We have a two party system here. It always appears a third party candidate will never be president, unfortunately

 

[RileyG]

I've been saying it for years- and I usually vote third party.

I voted for Gary Johnson in 2016. I wasn't aware he was pro-abortion, may God forgive me for that. I just couldn't stand Clinton or Trump.

 

[mourningdove~]

Actually starting a third party and launching it isn't an easy thing. The Two big parties have set up their roadblocks, but there is way more to it than that. It's a combination of a compelling idea, a felt need, a dedicated group of skilled organizers in it for the long haul, local AND national presence, some big name candidates, and a slew of money. Without all of that a third party is going to remain a tiny thing or a short lived thing. We have the perennial Socialist Worker's Party (around forever) and the Libertarian Party (around forever) and Perot's party (a flash in the pan) as examples.

I'm pulling for the American Solidarity Party, but it ain't gonna actually launch into prominence this year. They have a great idea behind it, which is the internationally successful Christian Democratic Party. Lots of good history there. Lots of intellectual basis for a centrist party that should appeal to more than half of the country.

AND there is a felt need for something other than the parties of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. A majority of Americans, according to Gallup, wish there was a major third party. Some other recent polling is showing that millions of Christians don't want Trump or Harris and are going to stay home on election day. I would say there IS a felt need, more than even four years ago. Some of it is disgust at the Big Two party picks, and some of it is disgust at their platforms. People DO want change.

The dedicated organizers for the long haul? The Big Two parties have that in every precinct in America, but paid and volunteer, door knockers, get out the vote, sign putter uppers, precinct conveners, people that go to district and state and national conventions. These are the political hack people. It's kind of like the Communist Party in China. There are a few million of them, dependable folks who put their party up there every day and month and year. To launch a political party is going to need not merely a thousand such people, but at minimum ten thousand. That will need to rapidly grow to a hundred thousand for any such party to launch. I'm not talking about just voters, but skilled organizers, many of them paid. Without that you don't get local or national presence.

And who aside from Ross Perot, and this year RFK Jr, are actual big name candidates? Eight years ago a Republican named Evan McMullen launched a third party bid to oppose Trump and Hillary. Who? Evan McMullen had a sliver of a chance IF he could get Utah electoral votes and the other two didn't get the needed 270 electoral votes. But he didn't win in Utah and had zero electoral votes. Why? Because nobody had ever heard of him. And he's like vanished now. The American Solidarity Party is running Peter Sonski this year. Who? Who did the Libertarians run last time? Who did the Socialist Worker's Party run last time? Nobodies.

Oh, and a slew of money's gonna be needed. Years long media presence is going to need hundreds of millions of dollars. The big media don't have the desire or time to promote a third party if that third party doesn't feed them cash. The Republicans feed them cash. The Democrats feed them cash. Big Media is made up of predominantly Democratic Party sympathizers but for the money they will do a tiny bit for the Republicans. They do nothing for the Socialist Worker's Party or the Libertarian Party. No money.

How does one get money and big name candidates and dedicated skilled organizers overnight? There's the rub. You are small potatoes and I'm small potatoes and between us we aren't even a small order of Fries from a fast food place. I'd say there is a real and substantial felt need for a centrist political party this year. AND I think the American Solidarity Party does have a winning idea behind it. But it isn't launching this year.

Some of that is that the two Big Parties always suck all of the oxygen out of the room. Gotta vote Trump to stop Kamala. Gotta vote Kamala to stop Trump. Those are captivating, even compelling, memes. Most people have bought into one of those memes. But in doing so they are throwing their votes away. The OTHER WAY of stopping Kamala is to vote for a better candidate. The OTHER WAY of stopping Trump is to vote for a better candidate. And that is the only way of stopping them both.

It's unfortunate that in a 'free' Country, that is the way it has been. And it doesn't sound like things will change anytime soon, but, if we survive the next few years, maybe the younger generation will rise up and fight to change things.

I tend to forget the younger people, and yet I'm sure there are many good and capable persons in that group. I feel the future of our Country is very uncertain at this time, but things could go in a way that's not expected.

Even in this election, we've started to see younger persons enter into the political arena and start to 'make a name' for themselves. I think we really need it. Even I am getting tired of hearing the same old names all the time! lol ugh

I think we'll know more about our future, after the election. If there should be some kind of civil war, it will probably be the younger that survive it. And there would be new leaders that would rise up from within that group. And maybe they will do things differently ...

 

[chevyontheriver]

We have a two party system here. It always appears a third party candidate will never be president, unfortunately

Where is it in the constitution that we have a two party system?

Actually there have been two instances of third party presidents. Teddy Rooseveldt's Bull Moose Party won. And when Lincoln won the two parties of long standing had been the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Whig Party began to collapse in the 1850's allowing the Republicans a chance.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I voted for Gary Johnson in 2016. I wasn't aware he was pro-abortion, may God forgive me for that. I just couldn't stand Clinton or Trump.

And I voted for Evan McMullen, whose opinion on abortion I still don't know. I guessed he was pro-life but ... well ... it hardly mattered considering how few votes he got.

 

[chevyontheriver]

It's unfortunate that in a 'free' Country, that is the way it has been. And it doesn't sound like things will change anytime soon, but, if we survive the next few years, maybe the younger generation will rise up and fight to change things.

I tend to forget the younger people, and yet I'm sure there are many good and capable persons in that group. I feel the future of our Country is very uncertain at this time, but things could go in a way that's not expected.

Even in this election, we've started to see younger persons enter into the political arena and start to 'make a name' for themselves. I think we really need it. Even I am getting tired of hearing the same old names all the time! lol ugh

I think we'll know more about our future, after the election. If there should be some kind of civil war, it will probably be the younger that survive it. And there would be new leaders that would rise up from within that group. And maybe they will do things differently ...

I fear a Lebanon scenario, or a Belfast scenario, or something along those lines. Never a terribly hot conflict, but cumulatively degrading the country. Domestic terrorism on a wider scale than we have known. And then, when we are spent, an invasion maybe by China or the EU or the Muslim world under the guise of maintaining order and avoiding starvation.

But there is some tiny hope that the youth aren't totally naive and aren't totally materialistic. We gave them a mess.

 

[mourningdove~]

But there is some tiny hope that the youth aren't totally naive and aren't totally materialistic. We gave them a mess.

Totally agree.

 

[RileyG]

Where is it in the constitution that we have a two party system?

Actually there have been two instances of third party presidents. Teddy Rooseveldt's Bull Moose Party won. And when Lincoln won the two parties of long standing had been the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Whig Party began to collapse in the 1850's allowing the Republicans a chance.

I actually don't know. I guess everyone thinks there's only Republicans and Democrats and either party will win.

thanks for the info, I actually wasn't aware of that

 

[LizaMarie]

Actually starting a third party and launching it isn't an easy thing. The Two big parties have set up their roadblocks, but there is way more to it than that. It's a combination of a compelling idea, a felt need, a dedicated group of skilled organizers in it for the long haul, local AND national presence, some big name candidates, and a slew of money. Without all of that a third party is going to remain a tiny thing or a short lived thing. We have the perennial Socialist Worker's Party (around forever) and the Libertarian Party (around forever) and Perot's party (a flash in the pan) as examples.

I'm pulling for the American Solidarity Party, but it ain't gonna actually launch into prominence this year. They have a great idea behind it, which is the internationally successful Christian Democratic Party. Lots of good history there. Lots of intellectual basis for a centrist party that should appeal to more than half of the country.

AND there is a felt need for something other than the parties of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. A majority of Americans, according to Gallup, wish there was a major third party. Some other recent polling is showing that millions of Christians don't want Trump or Harris and are going to stay home on election day. I would say there IS a felt need, more than even four years ago. Some of it is disgust at the Big Two party picks, and some of it is disgust at their platforms. People DO want change.

The dedicated organizers for the long haul? The Big Two parties have that in every precinct in America, but paid and volunteer, door knockers, get out the vote, sign putter uppers, precinct conveners, people that go to district and state and national conventions. These are the political hack people. It's kind of like the Communist Party in China. There are a few million of them, dependable folks who put their party up there every day and month and year. To launch a political party is going to need not merely a thousand such people, but at minimum ten thousand. That will need to rapidly grow to a hundred thousand for any such party to launch. I'm not talking about just voters, but skilled organizers, many of them paid. Without that you don't get local or national presence.

And who aside from Ross Perot, and this year RFK Jr, are actual big name candidates? Eight years ago a Republican named Evan McMullen launched a third party bid to oppose Trump and Hillary. Who? Evan McMullen had a sliver of a chance IF he could get Utah electoral votes and the other two didn't get the needed 270 electoral votes. But he didn't win in Utah and had zero electoral votes. Why? Because nobody had ever heard of him. And he's like vanished now. The American Solidarity Party is running Peter Sonski this year. Who? Who did the Libertarians run last time? Who did the Socialist Worker's Party run last time? Nobodies.

Oh, and a slew of money's gonna be needed. Years long media presence is going to need hundreds of millions of dollars. The big media don't have the desire or time to promote a third party if that third party doesn't feed them cash. The Republicans feed them cash. The Democrats feed them cash. Big Media is made up of predominantly Democratic Party sympathizers but for the money they will do a tiny bit for the Republicans. They do nothing for the Socialist Worker's Party or the Libertarian Party. No money.

How does one get money and big name candidates and dedicated skilled organizers overnight? There's the rub. You are small potatoes and I'm small potatoes and between us we aren't even a small order of Fries from a fast food place. I'd say there is a real and substantial felt need for a centrist political party this year. AND I think the American Solidarity Party does have a winning idea behind it. But it isn't launching this year.

Some of that is that the two Big Parties always suck all of the oxygen out of the room. Gotta vote Trump to stop Kamala. Gotta vote Kamala to stop Trump. Those are captivating, even compelling, memes. Most people have bought into one of those memes. But in doing so they are throwing their votes away. The OTHER WAY of stopping Kamala is to vote for a better candidate. The OTHER WAY of stopping Trump is to vote for a better candidate. And that is the only way of stopping them both.

I also think more people need to get out and vote in the primaries and they don't. I wanted some other Republican than Trump this time so I did vote in my state's primary. But the Candidate I originally wanted had dropped out by then so I voted for the last candidate standing. Apparently the voters wanted Trump, on the Republican side.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I also think more people need to get out and vote in the primaries and they don't. I wanted some other Republican than Trump this time so I did vote in my state's primary. But the Candidate I originally wanted had dropped out by then so I voted for the last candidate standing. Apparently the voters wanted Trump, on the Republican side.

Politics is not my life. I think it shouldn't be most people's lives. But voting in primaries, and even being involved in primary campaigns, is vital. As is the case this year, the candidates are chosen early on. General election day is a little late to really make a difference.