Third party?

[ttwtt78640]

I already vote 3rd party, I think we do have plenty of choices from within them. People just need to stop falling for the cycle of faux dichotomy and actually vote 3rd parties. Once a 3rd party starts gaining enough traction, it will naturally start to attract some more moderate views to the philosophy.

Ranked choice voting would encourage doing that, as would removing the “straight ticket” voting option or offering a “none of the above” choice for any public office on the ballot.

I am willing to bet that a majority of “educated” voters could not name their current two US Senators and single US House district member, much less how (or even if) they voted on a given bill.

 

[Ikari]

Ranked choice voting would encourage doing that, as would removing the “straight ticket” voting option or offering a “none of the above” choice for any public office on the ballot.

I am willing to bet that a majority of “educated” voters could not name their current two US Senators and single US House district member, much less how (or even if) they voted on a given bill.

I do like the ranked system. It has about as much chance of being reality as a third party candidate winning President. But then again, I voted for Jorgensen, lol. It would be great to have a ranked choice voting system, though.

 

[OlNate]

Would you support a moderate third party? Lots of words about it repeated below.


And the idea keeps coming up when discussing either scenario: as a check on Democrats or a rejection of Trump in a second term.

Asked by Rick Newman at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit this week about different scenarios for the Republican party, Fiorina gamed it out, saying that “every single one of the alternatives” is on the table.

“One of the things that I have said publicly and said to many of my colleagues is, we are not asked as citizens of this country to pledge allegiance to a party,” she said.

More: Watch the full interview with Carly Fiorina

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who challenged Donald Trump in the 2020 primaries and already voted for Biden, predicted a new party in a recent interview. “I think in January and February, frankly, whether Trump wins or loses, you're going to see an effort by moderate Republicans, joined by moderate Democrats, some practical libertarians, many environmentalists, the old Green Party, come together,” he said. “It'll be a new party.”

Another one of President Trump’s 2020 challengers, Joe Walsh, has said “the Republican Party is done. It’s breaking up before our very eyes.”

I think the oddest thing here is the idea that the Democrats are far left. By any other country's standards around the world, they are the moderate one - in Canada, they are most like the Liberal Party, which is center, with the NDP being on the left and Conservative party on the right.

Anything between the Dems and the GOP would be considered right leaning...hell, even the Dems are right leaning, compared to the rest of the world. There's barely any room between the Dems and the GOP to fit another party.

 

[ttwtt78640]

I do like the ranked system. It has about as much chance of being reality as a third party candidate winning President. But then again, I voted for Jorgensen, lol. It would be great to have a ranked choice voting system, though.

The POTUS election is made even more ridiculous by (most) states opting for the winner take all assignment of their EC votes.

 

[Ikari]

The POTUS election is made even more ridiculous by (most) states opting for the winner take all assignment of their EC votes.

True. I mean, I do like the EC, I think it's the balance between the Popular vote and the State vote, and we do have two houses of Congress for this same reason. But Maine and Nebraska seem to have it portioned out better. I kind of like the district by district parsing of the vote. Though I do suppose that makes Gerrymandering even more powerful.

 

[Nuber]

I've come to realize that the American people are too stuck in their ways to ever allow a third party to become viable. The D's & R's have a stranglehold on the entire political spectrum within the USofA and that's just the way it's going to be.

Indeed. The parties in many states have created rules to keep their power and authority intact. Third political parties are second class citizens (so to speak) in most states because those in power want to keep their power.

This election, in 2020, is all about getting Trump and his merry band of idiots out.

Striked should read - "keeping Democrats and their"

There's one, and only one way to do that. Vote D. Hold your nose, close your eyes, do whatever you need to do, but if you want Trump out you MUST vote D. There's no other viable option.

Striked should read - "Vote R."

In this coming election, a vote for any third party candidate is a vote for Trump.

Striked should read - "Harris"

It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is. You only have two VIABLE options.

And Trump is a clear cut better choice for those who oppose massive expansion of the nanny state. And also those who oppose a figure head President. Biden isn't going to be in charge of anything.

 

[ttwtt78640]

True. I mean, I do like the EC, I think it's the balance between the Popular vote and the State vote, and we do have two houses of Congress for this same reason. But Maine and Nebraska seem to have it portioned out better. I kind of like the district by district parsing of the vote. Though I do suppose that makes Gerrymandering even more powerful.

There is no need to do the apportioning “district by district”. The problem is that neither (majority) blue nor red states wish to become (permanently) purple.

 

[Ikari]

There is no need to do the apportioning “district by district”. The problem is that neither (majority) blue nor red states wish to become (permanently) purple.

*shakes fist at those states*
I'll turn them purple!

lol

But no, I get what you are saying. It's the same reason why 3rd party candidates aren't allowed to participate, why we won't have ranked voting systems, etc. The established parties will never actually risk a threat to their power base. So, for as long as we keep supporting them, this is what we're going to get.

 

[911Sparky]

There already is a bona fide legit 3rd party, which also is the 3rd largest party after the dems and repubs: the Libertarian Party.

When you consider the fight to get to 270 ec votes with two candidates, it seems impossible for a 3rd party to get to 270 in a 3 way race.
Not saying it can't happen, but I won't risk keeping Trump in office to take that chance.

 

[jonny5]

When you consider the fight to get to 270 ec votes with two candidates, it seems impossible for a 3rd party to get to 270 in a 3 way race.
Not saying it can't happen, but I won't risk keeping Trump in office to take that chance.

Which is why most people aren't libertarians. They don't have principles.

 

[Montgomery]

A better possibility would be Bernie creating the equivalent of a third party from within the Dem party. There's only one reason for another party and that is to break free of the failed American way that is destroying any chance of the ordinary American receiving a piece of the American pie.

Ya'all had your chance to demand Bernie or maybe Elizabeth and you chose to cointinue with the corruption of the very wealthy imposing their will on you people.

Enjoy! No doubt China will!

 

[911Sparky]

Which is why most people aren't libertarians. They don't have principles.

Do you mean a principled libertarian like Rand Paul?

 

[Luther]

Actually it does. Right now with 2 parties, both parties know no matter how badly they do, they will be back in power in a decade or so. There is no incentive to do the right thing knowing this.

A viable 3rd party would force both sides to work a little harder to get votes, it would require both sides to compromise more to get anything accomplished. Just imagine if the Senate were 40 Repubs, 40 Dems and 20 third party. Nothing becomes law without compromise working together.

Actually it does.

No... no it doesn't

1 of the two party behemoths will always win

 

[Moderate Right]

Would you support a moderate third party? Lots of words about it repeated below.


And the idea keeps coming up when discussing either scenario: as a check on Democrats or a rejection of Trump in a second term.

Asked by Rick Newman at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit this week about different scenarios for the Republican party, Fiorina gamed it out, saying that “every single one of the alternatives” is on the table.

“One of the things that I have said publicly and said to many of my colleagues is, we are not asked as citizens of this country to pledge allegiance to a party,” she said.

More: Watch the full interview with Carly Fiorina

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who challenged Donald Trump in the 2020 primaries and already voted for Biden, predicted a new party in a recent interview. “I think in January and February, frankly, whether Trump wins or loses, you're going to see an effort by moderate Republicans, joined by moderate Democrats, some practical libertarians, many environmentalists, the old Green Party, come together,” he said. “It'll be a new party.”

Another one of President Trump’s 2020 challengers, Joe Walsh, has said “the Republican Party is done. It’s breaking up before our very eyes.”

While this is a good fantasy I very much doubt it would happen. It is nothing more than wishful thinking. Third parties always seem to be more extreme than the other parties. We basically have a moderate third party now with Libertarians and no one votes for them because they are splintered between left and right Libertarians.

 

[jonny5]

Do you mean a principled libertarian like Rand Paul?

Hes a Republican, thus not really a libertarian, so no.

 

[bluesmoke]

I love a Moderate Party, thing is one has to start at the grassroots level to succeed, start at local levels, move on to State and then Federal levels, not an easy task and the Big 2 Parties will fight them tooth and nail.

Currently, any third party would be made largely of Republicans, splitting the Rep party. The Dem party would get most votes in so many 3-way races and the Rep party and new 3rd party would get hardly anything, leaving the Dem party in super control up and down the local, state and national office. Some Dem faction might overly influence legislation that the two Rep parties would so object as to form coalition to defeat the Dem legislation, but that would be seldom.

 

[Cameron]

Would you support a moderate third party? Lots of words about it repeated below.


And the idea keeps coming up when discussing either scenario: as a check on Democrats or a rejection of Trump in a second term.

Asked by Rick Newman at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit this week about different scenarios for the Republican party, Fiorina gamed it out, saying that “every single one of the alternatives” is on the table.

“One of the things that I have said publicly and said to many of my colleagues is, we are not asked as citizens of this country to pledge allegiance to a party,” she said.

More: Watch the full interview with Carly Fiorina

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who challenged Donald Trump in the 2020 primaries and already voted for Biden, predicted a new party in a recent interview. “I think in January and February, frankly, whether Trump wins or loses, you're going to see an effort by moderate Republicans, joined by moderate Democrats, some practical libertarians, many environmentalists, the old Green Party, come together,” he said. “It'll be a new party.”

Another one of President Trump’s 2020 challengers, Joe Walsh, has said “the Republican Party is done. It’s breaking up before our very eyes.”

I would definitely support a third party for Congress. I don't know at this point I could support a third party vying for the Presidency, because I think it would split the moderate vote more than the crazy vote. Although maybe if there was a three-party Congress the two more moderate wings could more effectively check a crazy President.

 

[bluesmoke]

The problem with your analysis, is that you are blatantly lying by saying Democrats are close to the center. There is no centrist wing of the Democratic Party. The Democrats are far left, they’re even fielding violent left shock troops in antifa and Black Lives Matter

I didn't say the Dems were close to the center. You are the one lying by saying I said what I didn't. Quote what I said that states what you accuse of me. You can't. You proved yourself lying. You're not a credible debater. Go away.

 

[Phys251]

Would you support a moderate third party? Lots of words about it repeated below.


And the idea keeps coming up when discussing either scenario: as a check on Democrats or a rejection of Trump in a second term.

Asked by Rick Newman at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit this week about different scenarios for the Republican party, Fiorina gamed it out, saying that “every single one of the alternatives” is on the table.

“One of the things that I have said publicly and said to many of my colleagues is, we are not asked as citizens of this country to pledge allegiance to a party,” she said.

More: Watch the full interview with Carly Fiorina

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who challenged Donald Trump in the 2020 primaries and already voted for Biden, predicted a new party in a recent interview. “I think in January and February, frankly, whether Trump wins or loses, you're going to see an effort by moderate Republicans, joined by moderate Democrats, some practical libertarians, many environmentalists, the old Green Party, come together,” he said. “It'll be a new party.”

Another one of President Trump’s 2020 challengers, Joe Walsh, has said “the Republican Party is done. It’s breaking up before our very eyes.”

Maybe in the future depending on whether it's a viable option. Not now. The imperfect Democratic party is the only sane major party.

 

[Moderate Right]

'Moderate Third Party'???

Dems are a moderate party. Biden has traditionally been a moderate, center-right Democrat. You can barely fit a piece of paper between the policies of some Dems and some Republicans.

Geezus H Christ.

Except for a few things like:

Biden lets protesters burn cities down. He thinks by just calling them out for their violence that they will just stop.

Wants the same living wage that the socialists want

Models his environmental plan on the Green New Deal

Won't secure the borders

Has picked one of the furthest left Senators to be his VP

 

[TheDoctorWasIn]

Our system is generally incompatible with more than two major parties.

 

[Mr Person]

I spent decades tilting at that windmill. Started voting in the early 80's. Never once voted for a D or an R if there was an alternative choice available.

All that has changed thanks to the R's and Trump.

I've come to realize that the American people are too stuck in their ways to ever allow a third party to become viable. The D's & R's have a stranglehold on the entire political spectrum within the USofA and that's just the way it's going to be.

This election, in 2020, is all about getting Trump and his merry band of idiots out. There's one, and only one way to do that. Vote D. Hold your nose, close your eyes, do whatever you need to do, but if you want Trump out you MUST vote D. There's no other viable option.

In this coming election, a vote for any third party candidate is a vote for Trump.

It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is. You only have two VIABLE options.

It'd probably help if third parties didn't have such loony tunes platforms. They end up with them because others realize the best way to come closer to meeting their goals is to work within the two parties.

So you end up with stuff like the Libertarian Party's tax policy: ending collecting taxes. Only "voluntary taxation", itself a misnomer because that isn't taxation at all.

They are so deluded and naive they actually believe you can run a country like a charity and everything will be hunky dory. No, what would happen is that the moment that passes into law, all credit freezes. Who is going to lend to a country that cannot collect taxes? All credit freezes, the federal government - aka the structure that makes us a country - collapses. The dollar it backs becomes valueless. It'd be instant chaos.

The rest of their platform is hardly any better. It reads like stuff fifth graders playing Lord of the Flies would come up with. It's all "nobody should tell me what to do!", writ in flowery freedoms language.



I haven't heard any sane arguments in favor of platform positions like that, only assurances that I shouldn't worry because if a libertarian is elected they probably won't get stuff that crazy passed. Gee, great reason to vote for someone.

 

[tres borrachos]

i'd have to have more information. i feel like i already am supporting a moderate third party by voting for Biden.

I voted for him this morning. First Democrat ever for me. He's moderate enough to make me happy for how I voted.