I'm Just a Little Bit Caught in the Middle: Third Parties

[Lily Adler]

Discuss the undesirables of politics, or the minor leagues in politics, or... Ah just discuss the third parties in politics from the eco-friendly Green Party to those daredevils of the Libertarian Party.

 

[Godzilla2000]

Hmmm...I guess I'm the only Independent registered voter here.

 

[chaseter]

I don't officially belong to any party but I side more with Independents.

 

[Lily Adler]

In Texas, once you vote for someone you are registered to their party, so if one were a more independent voter or had political beliefs that deviated from the major two then they're most likely assimilated to the big two (third party is unlikely since most of the candidates of those parties are sometimes a major joke). So even though I'm more independent as soon as I vote for someone I'm branded.

 

[enterthemadness]

I'm a registered Libertarian here in North Carolina. Sooner or later I'll pay dues to the LP when I can afford it.


In cool news, Modern Whig gets elected in Philly.


http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/Philly_elects_first_Whig_in_157_years.html

"The political tone turned nastier and I didn't identify with either Republicans or Democrats," he said. "The time for a third party that can broker consensus is long overdue. There have been many attempts since the beginning of our country, but the two major parties control the election laws, the ballot and the conversation."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/p...st_Whig_in_157_years.html#ZK7C6DdXsxIwF0HZ.99​

 

[Hellion]

While I'm not registered, I feel I support and identify the most with the Green party, although there are a handful of other third parties I feel I could identify with also...

 

[Kelly]

Actually I'm a very desired voter....my vote is probably one of the most desired votes in the country today. Woman, Independent.... : )

 

[Lily Adler]

LIES!

I actually pictured you as Libertarian, Kelly.

 

[enterthemadness]

LIES!

I actually pictured you as Libertarian, Kelly.

most libertarians are guys....so I've read.


We need more women libertarians and Libertarians.

 

[Lily Adler]

Well politics are a man's game after all. Who do young girls who want to be politicians aspire to? Hilary Clinton? Condeleeza Rice? Michelle Bachman? Sarah Palin?

Not many to choose from, at least from what the media tells us.

I personally wanted to run for Texas Attorney General, but I don't think it would happen since I'm not the most conservative person, in fact I'm fairly liberal, socially.

 

[Lily Adler]

Well, I was THIS close to going Libertarian, ETM. I thought their leniency towards 'victimless crimes' and fiscal policies are too extreme for my taste. But they are the party whose beliefs most resemble my own, so I guess I would be a moderate Libertarian.

 

[wiegeabo]

I was originally an Reform, until Buchanan took over and pushed it to super-right wing.

Then I was Independent, but then they went super right-wing too (and eventually fell apart, splitting, with faction going to the Constitution party) so I got out of there.

The Libertarian Party most closely fits in with what I want. Unfortunately, people tend to call the party nuts and point out only the most extreme views and people when arguing against it (and yet get pissed when people do the same thing to their Big Two party).

 

[Destructus86]

I'm an Indie. I also know we will never win an election. :P

 

[Kelly]

LIES!

I actually pictured you as Libertarian, Kelly.

I actually fall very nicely into the Libertarian Party, though I am not one that wants "all drugs" legalized.

But, I am a registered Independent.

 

[Lily Adler]

Exactly! I'm not fully embracing the LP because of the 'legalize all drugs and prositution' aspect of the party. I'm currently indifferent to the legalization of marijuana debate as I know it's addictive, but it doesn't do any more harm than alcohol and tobacco so I can see why some question it being illegal. I'm still in favor of many of their other beliefs though except I don't like monopolies and believe a degree of government regulation is needed in order to keep the market safe for consumers, at least that's what I want to believe.

 

[Kelly]

To not take this into a legalization derailment of the thread....I am all for decriminalization of marijuana first, and then move into legalization. I think it will/would be a far smoother transition for the country, or state.

 

[Lily Adler]

To prevent such derailment, what are the chances of a third-party member winning a major election such as Congressman or Senator. I know we have a Socialist somewhere in Congress.

 

[wiegeabo]

Occasionally a third party will win a House seat. The most I've seen at one time were twol House seats.

And two Senators are currently third party (Independent and Democratic Socialist).

Usually, from what I see, they get elected as one of the Big Two, then defect to a third party while in office.

 

[wiegeabo]

What third parties need is a concentrated effort at local levels to get elected and, more importantly, get localities to stop using IRV balloting.

Once you start you start getting people more of a voice at their local levels, and get used to third parties winning/making a decent showing, they'll become more accepting at higher levels. They'll look for more information. And the press (starting with local papers and moving upwards) will need to cover third parties more.

 

[The Question]

To prevent such derailment, what are the chances of a third-party member winning a major election such as Congressman or Senator. I know we have a Socialist somewhere in Congress.

Well, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont is an Independent and a self-described socialist.

 

[wiegeabo]

I think Maine has the other senator

 

[The Question]

Granted, wether or not other socialists would describe Bernie Sanders as a socialist I really don't know. But if he's in favor of wealth redistribution by means of legislation instead of people's heads on pitchforks, he's okay in my book.

 

[Lily Adler]

As the two parties become more pure and the moderates are forced out from them, I can see a future where they may integrate with a third party to attempt at some balance shift.

 

[The Question]

As the two parties become more pure and the moderates are forced out from them, I can see a future where they may integrate with a third party to attempt at some balance shift.

That's not really happening with the Democrats, though. Right now they're pretty moderate for the most part.

 

[Figs]

To not take this into a legalization derailment of the thread....I am all for decriminalization of marijuana first, and then move into legalization. I think it will/would be a far smoother transition for the country, or state.

They're actually going to do somewhat of a test run in the state of Washington and I believe two other states(I can't remember which two). It starts in December or next year but they're going to make it legal on a federal level to see what the tax revenue is like as well as a few other things. With that being said, they do of course have the right being the federal government and all to jump in and slam the hammer down in a moments notice.

As for third parties. I still need to read more on them but I'm heavily leaning towards the Libertarian party.