Political Parties

[Saint77]

I'm sure the Prohibition Party's parties are pretty boring, US Marijuana Party parties might be worthy of attendance.

Ooo, I forgot about the mary jane party.

 

[Creole in Kansas]

I was thinking the same thing...

Although the deck is seriously stacked against new parties, it's not impossible. But, it would probably help for the 3rd parties to focus on local races and not the whole enchilada. That's been the main problem with the current presidential candidate focused third parties.

 

[varanook]

I just want more choices of candidates really.
I thought if there were other political parties out there with new ideas that people would be more interested in government.
Personally I would love to start one that caters more to the middle class and to America first as opposed to the massive amount of welfare we send to other countries.
The parliamentary system I think would be good just for the more choices aspect as well but unlikely to happen
Unfortunately I see no candidates that are really interested in anything but re-election and the government has become more-so a power struggle and most officials corparate lackeys and could care less what the common man wants.
I just thought with more political parties more representation would be achieved.
I looked up the Libertarian party and they have been around since 1971 and they have done little.
Need a gimmick to get americans interested these days, maybe someone dressed in coveralls(who has actually worked for a living and won't forget that when he/she gets in political office) with patches of sponsors around the country on his coveralls to start the common man's party or something like that.
Unfortunately one needs money and I don't have much of it , lol.

 

[tomwaits]

Although the deck is seriously stacked against new parties, it's not impossible. But, it would probably help for the 3rd parties to focus on local races and not the whole enchilada. That's been the main problem with the current presidential candidate focused third parties.

Actually, the Libertarians take more local offices every year. There are far more Libertarians in offices around the country than any other 3rd party.

 

[saintfan]

I almost feel that there will be only 2 legitimate parties in this country...one, because it works, and two, because its a representation of the 2 major philosophies that we as american have.

You either want things to stay the same-Conservative/Republicans or you are more of a progressive forward thinker and are open to new ideas or changes-Liberal/Democrat.

The problem with that logic is that extreme ends of the political spectrum tends to win over the more moderate philosophies. Louisiana is a clear example. Remember when we have a Governor's election between a crook and a grand wizard? You had to hold your nose to vote.

Look at the Democratic Party. They have gone so far from the main stream its not recognizable as the party FDR led. They are controlled by radical philosophies to the extent they are disjointed and out-of-touch with the consensus of the country.

The Republican Party has slipped far from the party that took control of the Congress in 1994. Now they are being equated to the party of special interests.

In any event, neither party truly represents the majority of the citizens, but there are few palatable chooses. Its bother me how far we as a nation have changed since World War II, but that's another topic.

 

[MPar98]

Well...Problem too is that in our constitution it says "ALL men are created equal" but some people fear that because they think the left are pushing a form of communism.

 

[DadsDream]

But, when it was written, the "ALL men" the Constitution referred to were white, male, property owners only.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

The two-party system isn't all that bad IF there is more of a balance of power between the Presidency, House and Senate. Right now we have one party in charge of all three (at least for the next few days ) Checks and balances is the key- just like you learned in fourth-grade civics.......

 

[St. Widge]

Well...Problem too is that in our constitution it says "ALL men are created equal" but some people fear that because they think the left are pushing a form of communism.

Actually, that phrase comes from the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. It was meant as a justification of revolution, not necessarily a principal for government.

Certainly the Constitution contains the idea of equality, at least equality under the law, equal protection under the law, etc. but there is no specific right to being equal and Certainly no statement that all men are created equal.

As for the 2 current political parties, I honestly think what you posted above is what they want us to think, Republicans = status Quo and Morality and Democrats = progressive and diversity. The problem is that the reality is that Republican or Democrat, they both stand for keeping power for their party. There is little difference between the parties in any real sense. They both agree that government should be involved in everything and that we need to tax people and have a large Federal Government, it's just the relative size of that government and what they think they should stick their nose in that is the difference. We are not talking about the difference between the Green Party and the Whigs here.

 

[Dave]

Alabama candidate campaigns on cleavage

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Loretta Nall, the Libertarian Party‘s write-in candidate for governor of Alabama, is campaigning on her cleavage and hoping that voters will eventually focus on her platform.

Her campaign is offering T-shirts and marijuana stash boxes adorned with a photo of her with a plunging neckline and the words: "More of these boobs." Below that are pictures of other candidates for governor — including Republican incumbent Bob Riley and Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley — and the words: "And less of these boobs."

Nall, who spoke in an interview Friday on the Capitol steps, realizes that is about as close as she is going to get to the governor‘s office. But her outrageous antics have helped her attract attention not normally enjoyed by write-in candidates.
http://www.localnewswatch.com/benton/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=19369

 

[LonghornSaint]

A true three party system will not likely exist as long as people have only one voting opportunity.

I envision a revision in voting, to the extent that a second voting round happens if the first round did not produce a clear winner, i.e. >50% votes.

For example, recently many feel compelled to vot e third party, but "didn't want to waste their vote". Under my alcohol induced concept, a preliminary voting round would allow many of us the opportunity to actually "vote our conscience", and a subsequent voting round to either seal the deal, or vote 2nd best.

What do y'all think of that?

LS

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

More than a third party, I'd like to see more of an independence movement. Seriously, I don't think the majority of Americans should belong to a political party, but rather stay independent. The idea would be to make the political parties work for your vote, instead of presuming you will vote for them.

You should only belong to a party if you believe in every single issue on that parties platform. Otherwise, you should stay independent, and then vote for the candidate that most closely represents your view, or whatever criteria you think you want in a representative.

Heck, at this point, I'd be happy with a sizeable minority of active independent voters.... enough to keep the major parties honest.

 

[Severum]

A true three party system will not likely exist as long as people have only one voting opportunity.

I envision a revision in voting, to the extent that a second voting round happens if the first round did not produce a clear winner, i.e. >50% votes.

For example, recently many feel compelled to vot e third party, but "didn't want to waste their vote". Under my alcohol induced concept, a preliminary voting round would allow many of us the opportunity to actually "vote our conscience", and a subsequent voting round to either seal the deal, or vote 2nd best.

What do y'all think of that?

LS

I think you want something like preferential voting.

 

[jdn9201]

Hate to be a pessimist here, but a legitmate 3rd party (one that holds more than a few seats in Congress and has a shot to win a Presidential election) will never happen. Well, at least as long as we have the current system that we do now.

The root of the whole problem is cold hard cash. That's how special interests groups got all of their power, and that's what influences politicians nowadays. That's also what is used to pay for advertising and media attention.
Even if there was a great candidate that stepped up, he/she would never have a chance because both parties would use their money and influence to block it, or would put on a negative advertising campaign like we've never seen before. To sustain a 3rd party, you'd need even more money. With that money comes the corruption that we have with the two party system today.
To me, it's just a vicious (sp?) cycle.