Difference between revisions of "Debate:Third Party Debate"

Latest revision as of 03:41, July 28, 2010

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What do you think about third parties and why? Also if you are affiliated with a third party, what is it?

I personally think that third parties are a great alternative to a republican and democratic(as in the party) world. It makes me angry to hear of people having to choose the lesser of two evils. The whole definition of democracy is the citizens vote for a candidate that best represents them and having the whole "2 party system" is activelt ruining America. People think that if they vote for their actual beliefs that their vote will somehow mean less... a vote is a vote, and never wasted. In fact if a vote is ever wasted its a vote thats casted because the person feels they have to vote for democrat or republican when they dont believe in either. Although my views are more unique than anything else, i am close enough to libertarian that I include myself in them, and would much rather have a libertarian in office than any republican or democrat ever born, with the exception of Jefferson and a select few others. Oh and by libertarian I mean an actual Libertarian not Ron Paul--TomLee 23:12, 3 November 2007 (EDT)

i think that they are good, and that their should be far more than 2 parties, but if you vote for a third party, your basically throwing your vote away, i mean sure you are voting for what you beleive in, but the purpose of your vote is so you can elect someone you want to be president, lets say that the person you wanted to win got 10000 votes, the person you wanted second got 100000, and the person you disliked most got 100001 votes wouldn't you say your vote was wasted?-Greenmeanie 23:57, 19 May 2008 (EDT)

Third Parties are a Powerhouse for fresh American Politics!!

Third Parties are great!!! OMG, I can't even begin...Let's look at history and you will see that America's Third Parties have had an enormous influence on political elections, and on public policy since the beginning. Take the actions of the Freemasons and the counter-Anti-Masonic Party during the 1800s, or the Bull Moose Party as a smack in the face for the Republicans back in 1914, or the Prohibition Party during the early Twentieth century in achieving major Constitutional changes, or the enormous Socialist movement in the '30s influencing government intervention, or the growth of the Nazi Party and George Wallace during the 50s and 60s, or the more recent examples of Nader, Perot, and Ron Paul in shaking up the talking points of Dem/GOP candidates, and, in the cases of Nader and Perot, directly shifting support away from a candidate.

Just remember that many Dem/GOP members are willing to twist and alter their positions in many ways to achieve victory and stay popular. Just think of the group-think that happened during the Democratic primaries, when each candidate suddenly announced one by one that they represented change, healthcare, and education like no other person in the room. I was amazed to see that they spent much more time fighting Bush and trying to take on the likely Republican contenders (like Biden did), than really working on a consistent message. The Republicans also shifted to the anti-immigration and social conservative debate, with people like Giuliani flipping on everything form gun control to abortion to gay rights in only a matter of months--just to win over Republicans. Ron Paul, who from the beginning ran as a Third Party candidate, altered the discussion on the Iraq war immediately, and won major support for avoiding the stale "support our troops" mantra. What that did was opened up new ideas and made the party a little lively on the topic.

And I think Perot's influence in 1996 showed a lot of weaknesses in Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush, particularly in small government and preparing for the information age. I feel that right-wing candidates like Pat Buchanan, David Duke, and Tom Tancredo gave a lot of voice to people who felt that their party was leaving them behind. In every race since Reagan, evangelicals have fielded support into many different candidates, hoping for success in Pat Robertson, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, etc. because they have felt left out.

Check Third Party Watch, Ballot Access News, and Politics1.com and you'll see that Third Parties are still active and important as ever in our political process. You might be surprised to see that Obama and McCain are going to be cross-endorsed by other Parties like the Independence, Working Families, Conservative, etc. lines on your ballot this coming November. That means that (in states that allow ballot fusion) McCain can be listed on a Conservative Party line and on the GOP line and you can vote for him based on the political line that you best align with. --CTrooper 22:17, 25 October 2008 (EDT)

I think that Perot's influence in 1992 and 1996 shows that Americans really are open-minded, and really will do what they need to do to avoid scum that the other major parties put out for us. As George Carlin said, the paries create an illusion of choice. Third parties are the way to go. I would much more prefer someone like Mary Ruwart over a Democrat or Republican. NickA 23:41, 27 July 2010 (EDT)