Not surprise really, but the two parties have the politics of fear locked in now like no other time, and keep those in either party so worried about the candidate they dislike from getting elected, the “anyone but X” vote, they will not risk voting for outside DemPubs in large enough numbers:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixty-three percent of U.S. adults currently agree with the statement that the Republican and Democratic parties do “such a poor job” of representing the American people that “a third major party is needed.” This represents a seven-percentage-point increase from a year ago and is the highest since Gallup first asked the question in 2003. However, the current measure is not meaningfully different from the prior highs of 61% in 2017 and 62% in 2021, shortly after the January 2021 Capitol Hill riots.
Unlikely to change voting habits. Those polling numbers don’t match the election results of their times.
Interesting thing is that both parties receive taxpayer funding for campaigns. The rule is that the party must get a certain percentage of the popular vote in a previous election to get that funding. I think 3%. Even in elections where people held their noses on both sides of the aisle, nobody’s gotten that lately. Its not like 60% of people voted third party in 2016 or 2020. Or even 3%.
To the winner goes the spoils. The DNC and GOP have won for so long they have written all the election laws to benefit them and them only. Sure, there are plenty of other parties, and a lot of those people get elected to local and state office. Federal? Fuhgetaboutit. Millard Fillmore (Whig) was last president to not be a Republican or Democrat; the last non-R, non-D, or non-independent senator was with the Farmer-Labor Party (1940-43). No clue about house member.
I wonder WHO responded for the Fetterman voters, as I’d guess most are illiterate. Also, I see Cornel West is running as an independent for the Presidency
“The League of Women Voters is withdrawing its sponsorship of the presidential debate scheduled for mid-October because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter,”
That’s all fine and well but neither side will be willing to sacrifice an election cycle or three in order for a third party to become viable. While a noble idea it devolves into a waiting game to see which side loses the most in the interim.
For instance I personally am not willing to vote for some third party candidate, though I may like him/her, if by doing so it means a POS commie Democrat in the White House.
I talk to lots of people that are fed up with both parties. The problem is them actually voting for someone else. There is always an excuse like well I can’t let person X get in or this election cycle is to important. I voted third party in 2020 for the first time and will most likely do it again. I am done holding my nose and sucking it up.
The mistake is believing all those people agree enough on issues that it could become a third party. They don’t. They’re just not happy with their current party representation. That could mean they want them to be farther left or right, or anywhere in between.
Although, most people I talk to seem to generally agree that more should be left to the states specifically to allow for greater political diversity while leaving each other alone.
There’s plenty of alternatives for 63percenters… Green, Libertarian, Socialist, Communist, Reform, Democratic Socialists… on and on. Hell, Ralph Nader ran for president three times. First in the Green party, then Reform party and then as an independent.
It’s one thing to say ya want another political party but quite another to donate to a party, get behind a candidate, organize and do the required work to get the candidate on state ballots, campaign funding… on and on. How many 63percenters are willing to stop binge watching Netflix and put forth the effort to match their survey response?
Those people are mainly full of crap. Voting percentage of those eligible is pathetic, primary voting where there is a chance to move things the most, is even worse.
“I’d like different options in the general, but I can’t be bothered to vote in the primaries of the party that more closely matches my beliefs.”
Been an independent for a long time. My general position is no DNC or RNC. I am against the duopoly and fully believe it’s destroying the USA and turning it into a Corporatocracy dystopian hellscape.
The whole point of America was not to be ruled. I dont want to be ruled by kings in England, and I definitely dont want to be ruled by CEO’s of giant corporations either.
Everyone hates Congress, but it’s never THEIR Senator or Representative that’s the problem. :rolleyes:
And, as others have mentioned, there is indeed a divide in this country and quite frankly I don’t think there is enough commonality to form a third party. The Left wants it to be more left, the Right wants it to be more right, and the middle…well who the fvck knows from one election cycle to the next what the hell their wishy-washy asses want.
For instance: no one really likes ILLEGAL ALIENS, but the hardcore Lefties want more votes and the Chamber of Commerce assholes on the Right want cheap labor. The average person doesn’t want these Third World scum, but that alone couldn’t be agreed upon enough to even make a single unifying issue.
To be honest you’d need maybe 5 or so parties to cover what just about everyone likes/dislikes, then you’d run the risk of someone in the White House with support from 21% of the country.
Yeah lots of folks want a third Party that aligns with their own views better than the 2-pack we have now. Problem is that makes for a couple million “third Parties”.
I’m all for alternate political parties. But they gotta start small, like winning local and state seats. If they can build momentum from the bottom up then they might be viable for national elections. Show me e a third Party that can win legislative majorities in a few states and few Governor’s mansions and then they might be ready for prime time.
That’s a big problem with all parties outside the duopoly. Everyone wants the White House and don’t even bother with the state house. Gotta win in the amateurs before going for the heavyweight title.
