Third Party Politics

[DigitalPhantom]

Whats up guys, I am writing a seminar paper on third party politics and I was wondering if you guys could help me out and just let me know whether or not you feel that a third party is necessary to express your political views, or if you are happy with the current two-party system (Republicans / Democrats). I just need some numbers to throw into my paper to give it some meat. THanks guys.

[YogsVR4]

The two existing parties encompass the bulk of the country (at least the voting people) because their views overlap large portions of what people want to hear.

Third parties do not succeed because they cater to a narrow band of beliefs. Greens are environmentally centered. Its their focus. Their entire view is wrapped around how things effect the environment. Libertarians have highly liberalized views on personal freedoms and everything is viewed as it affects those. The Taxpayers Party mainly cares about you pocket book and how to keep that money there.

All of these parties have views on other issues; abortion, immigration, social security, national security, and a host of others, but they never put much effort in spelling them out. They are of little importance to their worldviews. The Republicans and Democrats have a broader base because they have a wider focus on wider variety of issues. One can disagree with the positions, but at least they have one.

[TexasF355F1]

I agree with Yogs sentiments. You can't really say there isn't a third party, b/c they are there, just not as popular as the Dems and Reps.

[taranaki]

Yogs summed it up nicely.

Unfortunately,the NewZealand experience of minor party politics has not been a happy one.Votes are represented in parliament under a proportional representation system than ensures that small parties get seats in the House relative to the number of voters across the entire nation.So,if for example,the We Hate Asians Send Them Home Party wins just 5% of the vote,they get 5% of the seats in Parliament.If that gave the bigots 5% of the influence in the House,that would probably be fair.After all,5%of our population voted for them.

The problem happens when parliament starts trying to legislate.The object of the game is to get 51% of the members to agree on something.Because there are so many 'also-ran' parties holding seats,neither of the two major parties wins enough seats to rule by majority.So then,the trade-offs of manifesto valuesstart and coalitions and alliances form.The We Hate Asians Send Them Home Party ,with their piddling little 5%,may just be enough for the Basically Decent But Still Politicians Party with 47% to form a voting coalition.

This becomes The We Hate Asians Send Them Home Party's finest moment.In order to secure the 5% that they need to lead the country,the Basically Decent But Still Politicians Party needs to offer a very large carrot to the racists.Usually,it's in the form of party support for the main plank of the minority party's manifesto.

Immigration gets tightened up,,harsh new rules get put into place,immigration officers are given less discretion in processing applications.Not because that is whsat the bulk of people want,but because that is what the We Hate Asians Send Them Home Party,with its measly 5%,has the power to ram through.

Third party politics sucks,basically.

[DigitalPhantom]

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

I agree with Yogs sentiments. You can't really say there isn't a third party, b/c they are there, just not as popular as the Dems and Reps.

I know there IS a third party, there are many third parties (four main third parties), but what I was asking is if you think they are necessary, because some people view them as just taking away votes from the Democratic or Republican parties, yet some view them as holding the same political views that they hold and that the Democrats and the Republicans do not hold, but thanks for responding guys.

[Cbass]

Canada has a 4 party political system, soon to become a 3 party system, as the two right wing parties are in the process of merging.

We have the slightly right of centre Liberals, who are bandits who have sold this country down the creek over the last decade in the name of better trade with the US.

We have the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance, who would love to privatize health care, state operated utilities and insurance, and otherwise make Canada like the US. This is why they haven't won an election since the 80s

Then we have the NDP, the left wing grassroots party that isn't run by big business, and has consistently proven that their policies are the best for the province. The only thing the right wingers can accuse them of is mismanaging money.

Canada is a very large country, with many different areas having vastly different political bias. The two biggest political parties just don't cut it here, especially when they are both right of centre. This is why we have the NDP here, to offer a left wing choice.

The US has two political parties which are nearly identical. They may say different things, but they do the exact same things. It's all about the money, they're just run by different corporations.

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by DigitalPhantom

I know there IS a third party, there are many third parties (four main third parties), but what I was asking is if you think they are necessary, because some people view them as just taking away votes from the Democratic or Republican parties, yet some view them as holding the same political views that they hold and that the Democrats and the Republicans do not hold, but thanks for responding guys.

Okay, I got ya. Just a little misinterpretation in the way I read it.