Which Third Party is worth it?

[Albion]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

 

[grasping the after wind]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

The Rent Is Too #### High party would have been my pick for the one having the best chance of succeeding but unfortunately I don't think they exist anymore. But if one were to look at how many people agree with that sentiment I think one might be able to garner a lot of support

 

[“Paisios”]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

I fear that none of them do. But it seems to me that if any of the third parties could gain enough seats in either chamber of Congress to make it difficult for either of the big parties alone to pass legislation, then it could be helpful in perhaps forcing the two major parties to actually dialog and discuss things.

 

[Albion]

The Rent Is Too #### High party would have been my pick for the one having the best chance of succeeding....

really?

 

[Hank77]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

I'd like to see a no party system. Each individual is judged by what they have to say and their own personal record and background, not because they have a D or R after their name, like it is now. I'd like voters to have to actually research and think for themselves. If they can't do that they shouldn't be voting to begin with.

 

[Albion]

I'd like to see a no party system. Each individual is judged by what they have to say and their own personal record and background, not because they have a D or R after their name, like it is now. I'd like voters to have to actually research and think for themselves. If they can't do that they shouldn't be voting to begin with.

A no-party system is not going to happen, and the question is about going the third party route.

 

[grasping the after wind]

really?

Well when you look at the other alternatives that seems to be as reasonable a choice as any.

 

[grasping the after wind]

A no-party system is not going to happen, and the question is about going the third party route.

A third party being relevant is as much not going to happen as a no party system. And for the exact same reasons

 

[TLK Valentine]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

A third party won't do... we'd need at least a dozen at this point.

Start by breaking up the two ruling parties like the monopolies they are. The TEA Partiers and Donald's disciples can separate themselves from the moderate Republicans and go into business for themselves, while the Progressives can split away from the more centrist Democrats.

Even a four party system would be an improvement... picture this for 2020... Donald vs. Ted Cruz vs. Joe Biden vs. AOC.

Maybe not something for everyone, but it's an improvement... and it's a start.

 

[Albion]

A third party being relevant is as much not going to happen as a no party system. And for the exact same reasons

Yes, we got the joke about the #### party. It never was on even one state ballot, if I remember correctly.

The question is this: WHICH of the Third Parties has the best opportunity to make even a modest impact (since people seem to talk often about being fed up enough to go that route)?

 

[tall73]

Many posters say that the two-party system is not working well. They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one. Quite a few members of CF actually list some third party as their choice. So here are the questions--

Which one among the current bunch has the best chance of succeeding to even a modest degree? Of making ANY difference? Why do you think so?

edit: I see you already addressed ballot access above.

The ones most likely to succeed are those that have already taken the steps to get on the ballot in most states. So your larger ones like the Greens party, Libertarian, etc.

However, if there was an election that could have worked for a third party it should have been the last one. The two major party candidates were very unpopular, but third parties still didn't get enough votes to really shake things up.

There may be progress over time if people continue to perceive that they have no good options.

 

[tall73]

The usual sentiment that limits third parties is that you are throwing your vote away and allowing the party least agreeable to you to win if you vote third party.

However, the more you have divides within a party the less that will hold true.

So this time around the Democratic candidates are far more progressive. But if the one that wins the primary is more of a centrist like Biden you may start seeing more progressives considering going Green, etc. because they do not feel their views are being represented.

This is especially true if the feel that one of their candidates got the Bernie treatment, as was revealed last time around.

 

[Albion]

Yeh, the Libertarians and the Greens both made advances in 2016 even though some of the gains they could probably have made got away from them for various reasons. But they both seem to be moving up and both are on a majority of state ballots.

 

[paul1149]

They speculate about going instead to some third party or speak of the need for a new one.

Whenever I see idyllics of a third party my thoughts immediately fly back to Ross Perot in 1992. He went third party - his own - evidently with the ultimate purpose of sinking Bush Sr. Perot entered the race when Clinton was flagging, exited it when Clinton found his sea legs, and reentered when Bush began making headway again.

Of course third parties can be used in an actual attempt to win office, but the overwhelming reality is that they must be viewed in the context of the two-party system. Back in 2016, one of two candidates was going to win the WH. A vote for anyone else had to be evaluated in that framework.

The beauty of Trump, though some would not use that particular descriptive, is that he was essentially a third-party candidate running within the two-party system. He was the consummate outsider who prevailed and won the party over to himself. Well, much of the party, anyway. There still were the Paul Ryans who were able to muck up the works for a while. But that Trump could do this over 16 rivals shows how moribund the Republican Party had become.

It's possible all this could change. Politics have been so vitriolic that big change is very possible. A third party could arise and establish itself among the other two. And if it did overcome the ultimate either-or bottom-line dynamic favoring the two main parties, it could end up superseding one of them and realigning the other.

 

[Albion]

I guess we have to contend with several additional points. For one, there are people who are so soured on both major parties that they want to vote third party and work for that party just for the sake of their own consciences. But at the same time, most of these seem to want their new party to have some chance of accomplishing something, even if that is only to hold the balance between the majors in a few political races. Many third parties barely exist except in name, but that's not true of all third parties.

 

[Albion]

The American Solidarity Party seems to be gaining attention for folks who are socially conservative and economically liberal.

does it have ballot status in a single state?* That's the $64,000 question for a lot of this, since if the party has none (or maybe only 1 or 2) it is essentially a political action organization more than a political party.

And if it is just that...then there are a lot of other political action organizations that are better, no matter what the ideology happens to be.

*Edit. I have heard of the American Solidarity Party, so I looked them up. The party says that members can get together online or by newsletters and does not even mention a single state in which efforts are currently being made to get on the ballot for 2020. It is a rather new party, however, dating back only several years.

 

[Albion]

I think being officially on the ballot is the least of ASPs problems. One is the name, it sounds too socialist.

Could be. I agree that the name has a negative ring to it, even if Socialism or labor unions did not come to mind.

If there was any more fertile ground for third party success it has been in these last 20 years with the internet. Unfortunately we've seen the leftists step up front and center to seize control of social media and the most popular websites to restrict content belonging to their opponents.

 

[Albion]

Not much notice taken of the Green Party on the thread. That surprises me.

 

[Speedwell]

I would like to see a Left/Labor party that did not make pro-choice a litmus test. It would break the hold religious extremists have given Conservatives over a large segment of the working class.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

I would like to see a third party with Reich somewhere in its name, perhaps one day…