A third major party won't stop the poisoning of our political atmosphere created by the loud mouths on both the left and right and it increases the danger of having the winners of elections be the choice of a minority of voters.
A third party would not help create a willingness to seek bi-partisan compromise that our nation needs. It would only add another power broker to the equation. We have seen what happens in countries with more that two parties; a minority party becomes the power broker. It gets to exert influence that proportionally is in excess of its representation among the electorate. This happens because, with rare exception, it is the power seekers who become politicians and the leaders of minority parties end up aligning themselves with one of the major parties in exchange for the power they can obtain through appointment to various offices.
In this country the history of third parties on a national level has resulted in the new party either evaporating or replacing what had been one of the majority parties.
I also don't think the majority of voters who are registered Democrats or Republicans think of themselves or belong to the right or the left. Some may be somewhat left of center and some may be somewhat right of center but the majority of us belong to what I have dubbed the Political Middle. What I think those of us in the Political Middle must do is reclaim control of the two major parties so they once more may become the more inclusive parties they once were and the liberal and conservative members of each party saw fit to show their philosophical counterparts respect while agreeing to disagree as they sought compromises that both could live with, likewise with Democrats and Republicans.
Having two political parties that are controlled by the majority that is in the center may make it more difficult for voters to make a choice because it probably will not result in candidates who are that far apart philosophically, but I would prefer the majority of voters having to choose between two good candidates rather than being forced to choosing the lesser of two the evils that many voters feel represents the current situation. The extremes won’t like it but I am tired of a political system that makes it easier for the ideologues to choose between the candidates because they see one as good and the other as evil.Last fall I created a Gather group called the Political Middle because I was frustrated by the poisoning of our political environment by the those on the far-right and those on the far-left and the attempts of both to dominate their respective parties and I felt there was a need for place for those of us in the political middle could make our voices heard and suggest the compromises that the ideologues on both the left and the right reject even considering. I invite all (Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; Liberals and Conservatives) who would like to civility become part of a new political atmosphere to join Gather’s “The Political Middle” group and let our collective voices be heard.
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Comments: 11
Sounds like a great Idea! There was a time in my memory, when conservative and liberal didn't necessarily apply to Republican and Democratic as the various extremes were present in both parties and most members of both parties were really quite centrist.
Both parties have sent the majority of centrists on permenent vacations in the years since that time. A story by former Congressman Dave Durenberger in our local City Pages gives the first person account.
The Democratic party has looked for, and elected, purple candidates in purple states. This is progress if these purple candidates can shine enough to get re-elected.
No sign of life on the Republican side. Stay tuned.
If any of you have ideas that can make the political middle more visable, write an article and publish it to The Political Middles and any other groups where you think we may find either general support or support from the party of your choice.
If you have an idea or article and don't want to publish it yourself email me or another Gather member who you think would be interested. If I like it I will publish your article with the acknowledgement that it was sumitted to me by a person who choses to be anonymous and if there is something in your suggestion that I really find objectionable or you simply want somebody else input I will email you back and we can work things out until we find a compromise that is agreeable to both of us.
I never vote for the person I think might win, or the most photogenic, or even the most charismatic. I research, listen, and observe before I vote. Local elections are a sorry situation for the people where I live. A more perfect world awaits somewhere in the future, I prey.