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Given that this has been among the most polarizing campaigns ever, could a new, truly centrist third party start building support among the many "no to both" vo

by inimino 10y ago

Given that this has been among the most polarizing campaigns ever, could a new, truly centrist third party start building support among the many "no to both" voters and have a chance in 2020? I realize it's crazy to suggest a third party could have a chance in American politics, but prove me wrong.

scott_karana 10y ago
I'm hoping for general electoral reform. The US is too large and diverse to adequately satisfy its populace with the current system.
- abraae 10y ago
  In 1994 my country switched from first past the post to MMP. Incredible fear mongering was put about (and sometimes still is). But despite our near brushes with craziness (like Kim Dotcom almost buying his way into parliament) the situation now is immeasurably better than when we had political parties who did not have to compromise and cooperate. Everyone's more...reasonable. To an outsider it looks like getting rid of the two party system would be a great thing for the US.
  - hyperdunc 10y ago
    MMP can actually over-represent minority interests by putting minor parties in power-broking positions. But I agree it's an overall improvement.
wtallis 10y ago
I don't think our system leaves room for three parties to coexist for any length of time, and with partisan identity being so strong these days the two major parties will continue to exist in name at least. But they have pivoted before, and in big ways. This Republican sweep has probably forestalled such a shift, but it'll be interesting to see which factions of the Republican party end up in conflict over the next few years, and which ones come to the fore the next time they're up against strong Democratic opponents. I think it's too soon to tell how the Republican Congress will get along with this Republican president.
- inimino 10y ago
  But this was an election where voters strongly disliked both candidates, and voting "against" rather than "for" was at an all-time high. Doesn't that intense partisanship pushing the two parties further apart create some room in the middle?
omarchowdhury 10y ago
Just bring back Ron Paul.
gfodor 10y ago
Trump destroyed the GOP and the DNC. He's the third party.

by inimino 10y ago

scott_karana 10y ago

I'm hoping for general electoral reform. The US is too large and diverse to adequately satisfy its populace with the current system.

abraae 10y ago
In 1994 my country switched from first past the post to MMP. Incredible fear mongering was put about (and sometimes still is). But despite our near brushes with craziness (like Kim Dotcom almost buying his way into parliament) the situation now is immeasurably better than when we had political parties who did not have to compromise and cooperate. Everyone's more...reasonable. To an outsider it looks like getting rid of the two party system would be a great thing for the US.
- hyperdunc 10y ago
  MMP can actually over-represent minority interests by putting minor parties in power-broking positions. But I agree it's an overall improvement.

wtallis 10y ago

I don't think our system leaves room for three parties to coexist for any length of time, and with partisan identity being so strong these days the two major parties will continue to exist in name at least. But they have pivoted before, and in big ways. This Republican sweep has probably forestalled such a shift, but it'll be interesting to see which factions of the Republican party end up in conflict over the next few years, and which ones come to the fore the next time they're up against strong Democratic opponents. I think it's too soon to tell how the Republican Congress will get along with this Republican president.

inimino 10y ago
But this was an election where voters strongly disliked both candidates, and voting "against" rather than "for" was at an all-time high. Doesn't that intense partisanship pushing the two parties further apart create some room in the middle?

omarchowdhury 10y ago

Just bring back Ron Paul.

gfodor 10y ago

Trump destroyed the GOP and the DNC. He's the third party.