Does the United States Need a Third Party? By Geniusofdespair

From Scorevoting.net

I was intrigued to read Raquel Regalado's column today in the Miami Herald. She dropped out of the U.S. Congressional race for District 27 having been (It appears from what she was saying between the lines) raked over the coals for being "A Moderate":

As the granddaughter of political prisoner who spent two decades in prison and the daughter of a Peter Pan who was sent to this country as a child seeking freedom and who dedicated more than two decades to public service, the current political climate and the level of disrespect and disregard for the values that our nation is founded on is disheartening — on both sides of the aisle.

And:

So I announce that I am withdrawing as a candidate for Congressional District 27 because: I refuse to compromise my values and beliefs; I refuse to accept disrespect, intolerance, and vulgarity as our new norm; and I refuse to be part of this two-party pantomime. I am and will remain a moderate voice.

I spoke with former Conservative Radio Commentator Charlie Sykes at the book fair. He wrote "How the Right Lost Its Mind". I said we need a third party and he agreed.

We don't all fit in to the two parties anymore. The nets both cast are not broad enough to encompass us all because the platforms of each party have items we just don't believe in. On both sides we are voting for a candidate we really don't like just because of the party affiliation.

As a Democrat, this year, I can say I am not on board with a lot and I can't think of any candidate that inspires me. I like Elizabeth Warren sometimes but I think she can be too shrill and combative. She would never win over the moderate voters and the Republican's would never allow her to govern. A third party would end the gridlock in Congress.

This was written in 2016 (updated March 17, 2017):

We have to begin making changes in our system that will enable this nation to govern itself once again.

So what’s the first step?

Well, we certainly can’t look to either major party for the reforms we need. They are too vested in the way things are right now, a system which preserves their power, protects entrenched incumbents, and allows the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans to continue to exert unfair influence over candidates and elections. There’s no way they’ll champion new rules that will weaken their duopoly.

If real systemic change is going to happen, it’ll have to come from an independent third party, one committed to giving government back to the people.

Americans are ready for it. They know the system is broken. That’s why sixty percent now say a new political party is necessary to break the logjam in governance. And those who call themselves “independents” today represent the largest “party” of all, 43 percent, compared to those who identify themselves as Democrats (30 percent) and Republicans (26 percent).

It won’t be easy and it will take time. The two-party system is deeply rooted. But we can make a difference if we begin now, pursuing reforms on a state-by-state, grassroots level. That will gradually clear the way for more nonpartisan candidates to get nominated and elected, and allow them, once in office, to put the best interests of the nation first and work with their colleagues to get things done.

Ultra-Conservative Columnist George Will calls the current Republican Party "The Party of the Grotesque." He has left the party.

This isn't a new idea for me. I wrote about it January 23rd:


We need a new political party that can be under the umbrella of the Democrats or an Independent Party on to itself (what I favor except for Duvergers's law).

We at least need a BRAND NEW name that represents Women and young people, like the Tea Party represented ultra conservatives and got wacky Republicans to run under their mantle.

We need a Jazzy new name for the more progressive of us: Techno Party? Living Dead? (I like that one).

I have been researching parties and have been flirting with joining the Pirate Party - just to be different.

I am with Michael Moore, just so sick of the Democrats. How about it kids? are you tired of the same old two parties? Lets be bold. Lets get the Democrats spiffed up for the next election with a strong new faction. Bernie tried let's continue his work.

It is probably easier to umbrella with the Democrats (ugh) because of Duvergers' law, a third party, even though I want one, is next to impossible.

see rebuttal by Ross Hancock