Civics Homework And Power of the Third Parties
September 15, 2008
I guess you are pretty obsessed when you light a political fire in your head over Civics homework (yes, I still do homework), but I’ve got to get this out. While reading and highlighting a packet on immigration, the author somehow got his random point across, unleashing his/her demise of the third political party and how the two-party system is the ultimate future of politics.
So, on a less heated note, I’d like to kindly point out that in fact the third party has essentially been the centerpiece of American political innovation, as supported by Bobby Roth’s: “A Reason To Vote”.
The first people to oppose slavery? We should give the GOP a hand, they founded the Republican Party (at the time) based on abolishing slavery. I’ll also note that most other nation-changing innovations have been conducted by a third party, including women’s rights for voting.
So although I do admit Bob Parr scares the living daylights out of me, one of the things I am very passionate about when it comes to politics is the fact that it is currently very hard for a third party to get on the ballet — and literally impossible for them to gain any recognition in the general election.
I haven’t ever agreed with a Green Party candidate nor a Libertarian, but one thing is for certain — every party should have the same chance to present themselves and their candidate’s credentials, and that has been fading away in the US lately.
The Blog At The End of the Universe 
September 15, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Too bad the media refuses to cover anything that does not deal with the duopoly. There are at least two other presidential candidates that the average American won’t even get a chance to find out about because the media will not cover them.
September 15, 2008 at 8:02 pm
very true. And most of the time, when the media does actually find something to say about a third party candidate, its most likely how they will mess up a certain party in the election, casting a pretty bad shadow on them.
thanks for the comment
September 15, 2008 at 9:30 pm
thanks for visiting my blog. http://educatedpoor.blah.blah
don’t fear bob barr. i actually met him about ten years ago (he was my representative in GA), he’s a total softie, he’s just steamed because he’s of mixed descent and trying to be lily white. he’s actually the one chance obama has of winning georgia in the general, because he will peel off votes for mccain.
September 15, 2008 at 10:53 pm
third parties are on the **ballot here in California. they don’t have as much money as the D&R’s to spend on advertising (showing you something!) but people out here are educated in politics. i actually help work the polls and i am pretty amazed at how many people vote independent, and even peace and freedom (shocking!)
i believe for things to change in the current system more people will have to educated themselves on who is running, and there will be four other parties, at least, on the ticket in November.. try and research what they are about and what that stand for.
hmmm, your blog title is so similar to a book I’ve read…
September 16, 2008 at 6:55 am
bootsinowski,
I don’t know if he will actually peel off votes for McCain, but I must admit Georgia is a pretty darn important state.
September 16, 2008 at 6:56 am
invisiblecamp,
Wow, that’s pretty cool that you work the polls, must be fun. Thanks for the pointers. About the title — was the book you read named: “The Cafe At the End of the Universe?”
pacer521
September 21, 2008 at 5:13 am
I also think the media should give more attention to third party candidates, like Nader and Barr. Not because they’ve got a legitimate chance to win, but because they have different views on the issues, and will even bring up new issues that the two major parties won’t. If third parties have a voice, they’ll be able to influence the debate in healthy ways.
Better access to the presidential debates would be another important step. Currently, one must have 15% support in national polls to get in. I think that should be lowered, at least early in the process. If someone gets in with, say, 5% support for the first debate, he or she would need to get perhaps 8% to get into the next debate, then 12% for the third. (I’m in favor of having more debates, in a variety of formats.) That way, the least significant candidates will be winnowed out as we approach election day, but those who get traction will continue on. Plus, any candidate who gets 50% of the people wanting them in the debates should also get an invite.