A Third Party in US politics?

[Laika]

Polls suggest that 71% of millennials aged 18 to 34 feel that both Republicans and Democrats are doing a bad job at representing America. 65% believe that the country is "on the wrong track". 60% disapprove of Congress and the Republican Party, whilst only 42% disapprove of the Democratic Party.

The high level of support for a third party is consistent regardless of existing party affiliation, race and gender, which is unusual.

80% of white men said a third party was needed, with white women at 70%. Of Millennials who were independents and not currently affiliated with either party, 75% said America needed a third party, whilst a majority of Republican millennials (69%) also believed in the need for a third party.

Majority of millenials want a third party in US politics, new poll says

actual data: Millennial poll: Strong majority want a third political party

Does America need a third Party? what policies do you think it would have to support? And would you vote for a third party in 2018 or 2020?

 

[HonestJoe]

I think the problem is demonstrated in the wording of the question. The US already has other political parties, the political system is just intentionally designed to keep them down and maintain the dominance of the major two. Changing that would involve positive action from both Democrat and Republican parties and those turkeys aren’t going to vote for Christmas.

The only other route would be if enough Americans ignored the media and party politics and chose to vote for non-mainstream candidates but I don’t see that happening without a focused national movement and the constant divisions being promoted in US society prevent that happening (almost as if that’s the point ).

 

[bobhikes]

The problem with the US is what people say and what people do are 2 different things. I have been supporting the third party cause only voting for 2 main stream presidents in my life. This last election where people hated the other candidate, I gave money, bought yard signs and flyers, gave out flyers went to meetings for the third party with the hopes of getting at minimum the highest percentage of voters for my state and a win in at least one state, neither happened. More people voted because of hatred of the other even though they didn't like their own candidate and yet it still wasn't a record for third party candidates.

 

[Father Heathen]

The U.S. has many third parties, including The Libertarian Party and The Green Party. The problem is that the media brushes them under the rug and the general public is uninformed and unaware when it comes to such options.

 

[Stevicus]

Polls suggest that 71% of millennials aged 18 to 34 feel that both Republicans and Democrats are doing a bad job at representing America. 65% believe that the country is "on the wrong track". 60% disapprove of Congress and the Republican Party, whilst only 42% disapprove of the Democratic Party.

The high level of support for a third party is consistent regardless of existing party affiliation, race and gender, which is unusual.

80% of white men said a third party was needed, with white women at 70%. Of Millennials who were independents and not currently affiliated with either party, 75% said America needed a third party, whilst a majority of Republican millennials (69%) also believed in the need for a third party.

Majority of millenials want a third party in US politics, new poll says

actual data: Millennial poll: Strong majority want a third political party

Does America need a third Party? what policies do you think it would have to support? And would you vote for a third party in 2018 or 2020?

Well, the option for a third (or fourth or fifth) party has always existed. All people have to do is join and vote for such a party. Why most don't do that now seems complicated. For one thing, a third party is often viewed as a "wasted vote."

Historically, third party candidates are often viewed as "spoilers" since they can take away votes from one of the major candidates if they seem close to each other politically. Ralph Nader was looked upon that way by many establishment level Democrats for his independent run in 2004. Democrats were saying things like "a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush," and it's this kind of mentality which ruins the chances of third party candidates.

It was somewhat similar in the Arizona gubernatorial election in 1986. Evan Mecham won the election due to the Democratic vote being split between Carolyn Warner and Bill Schulz (who was a Democrat but ran as an independent in that election). Mecham's election and his antics while in office were indirectly blamed on those who voted for Schulz. I remember some people had bumper stickers which said "Don't blame me, I voted for Carolyn." Because of this, many people thought there should be a runoff election in the event that no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, which happened in the very next election in 1990, which forced a runoff.

 

[Revoltingest]

The U.S. has many third parties, including The Libertarian Party and The Green Party. The problem is that the media brushes them under the rug and the general public is uninformed and unaware when it comes to such options.

I'll add that many people who want a 3rd party really just want the Big
Two to be better than they are. They really don't fit in with existing 3rd parties,
which are relatively unacceptably extreme to voters in one way or another.

Note that I'm unacceptably extreme, so I know wherefrom I speak.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Polls suggest that 71% of millennials aged 18 to 34 feel that both Republicans and Democrats are doing a bad job at representing America. 65% believe that the country is "on the wrong track". 60% disapprove of Congress and the Republican Party, whilst only 42% disapprove of the Democratic Party. ...

Does America need a third Party? what policies do you think it would have to support? And would you vote for a third party in 2018 or 2020?

I suspect that @Revoltingest is correct when he writes ...

I'll add that many people who want a 3rd party really just want the Big Two to be better than they are.

Furthermore, appeals to the type of statistics found in the OP fail to the extent that the disenchanted are politically heterogenous. In a town with only a sushi bar and a taco stand, there may well be a desire for another option with little or no agreement as to what that option should be. I love Middle Eastern cuisine, my wife has a preference for seafood, and @Revoltingest will go pretty much anywhere with a focus on bacon.

And, yes, there is already an excess of third parties from which to choose.

 

[Revoltingest]

I love Middle Eastern cuisine, my wife has a preference for seafood, and @Revoltingest will go pretty much anywhere with a focus on bacon.

Just so you know, I'm an omnivore.
Some of me favorite restaurants: Indian, vegan, Afghan, Cuban, Chinese (northern
& southern), Vietnamese, Thai, Tibetan, Italian, Ethiopian, Senegalese, Korean,
Lebanese, Mexican, Spanish, BBQ (all styles), Tex-Mex, & Subway.

But I don't care for anything with "fusion" in the name. That never turns out well.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Just so you know, I'm an omnivore.
Some of me favorite restaurants: Indian, vegan, Afghan, Cuban, Chinese (northern
& southern), Vietnamese, Thai, Tibetan, Italian, Ethiopian, Senegalese, Korean,
Lebanese, Mexican, Spanish, BBQ (all styles), Tex-Mex, & Subway.

I note that sushi does not appear on your list!

 

[Revoltingest]

I note that sushi does not appear on your list!

Only because of a spotty memory.
Add Japanese & Zingermans to the list.
I'll eat other fare too, but the restaurants just haven't made my favorites list.

 

[Stanyon]

Does America need a third Party? what policies do you think it would have to support? And would you vote for a third party in 2018 or 2020?

I voted Libertarian in 2016, not because I felt that they actually had a chance but because I could not in good conscience vote for either of the two ordained offerings.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Only because of a spotty memory.
Add Japanese & Zingermans to the list.
I'll eat other fare too, but the restaurants just haven't made my favorites list.

LOVE Zingerman's!

 

[Sanzbir]

Does America need a third Party?

The big problem is the main two parties have specifically colluded together to structure the election commission in such a way that third parties cannot compete with them, limiting debate access and the like in such a way that only the two are given opportunity.

That's why, despite the huge polls and demands for a third party, the country still doesn't have one. The main two have structured it in a way where they don't have to share power with outside competitors.

And would you vote for a third party in 2018 or 2020?

I see no reason to stop voting third party in those years.

 

[Sanzbir]

Well, the option for a third (or fourth or fifth) party has always existed.

Not with the DNC and GOP directly controlling the Commission on Presidential Debates it doesn't. The system is set up from the get-go to favor the two existing ones.

 

[idav]

Democrats and Republicans expect us Independents to vote the big two while those perceptive people pick their primary candidates. I'm surprised any independents want to vote after that let alone join one of the big two. Independents already have majority so just a matter of time and getting someone smarter than Johnson.

 

[Nous]

what policies do you think it would have to support?

That's a large part of the problem--there is no possible platform that would appeal to the 70-80% people who say they would support a third party. (Of course, every party platform sounds hokey to me.)