A majority of Americans think the country needs real, viable alternatives to the Democratic and Republican parties, according to a new NYT/CBS poll. Only 42% of respondents expressed support for the current two-party state and duopoly system of government. From the most recent NYT/CBS News poll:
Amid disapproval of the major political parties, the percentage of Americans who think the country needs a third party to compete with the Republicans and Democrats has risen 8 points from this past spring. 54% say the country needs a third party, similar to the levels seen in the mid-nineties. Tea Partiers are just as likely as all Americans to think the nation needs a third party – 56% of them think that.
Does the country need a third political party?
Yes 54%
No 42%
On the heels of the NYT/CBS survey, a new Gallup poll confirms the sentiment. From Gallup:
Americans’ desires for a third political party are as high as they have been in seven years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic Parties do a poor job of representing the American people. That is a significant increase from 2008 and ties the high Gallup has recorded for this measure since 2003. . . .
The desire for a third party is fairly similar across ideological groups, with 61% of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 54% of conservatives believing a third major party is needed. . . .
Independents, as might be expected given their lack of primary allegiance to either of the two major parties, express a greater degree of support (74%) for a third party than do Republicans (47%) and Democrats (45%). Over time, independents have consistently been the political group most eager to see a third party formed.
Via Poli-Tea.
@Jeff and Robert- All of what you say sounds right, except when the system isn’t operating “normally”. And here in New York it isn’t. There are openings here for advocacy of Proportional Representation that haven’t been present for a long time, even to the point where the leading gubernatorial candidate (Cuomo) is calling for a state constitutional convention to fix the state government. Systemic political reform may be on the agenda.
ph, PR is proportional representation, yes? Very difficult for a 3rd party to spearhead such a process reform. With no seat at the table, it requires an intense, large grassroots movement. Difficult to build and sustain such a thing about a procedural matter.
Vanke’s opportunism seems more realistic. That’s how markets work, and it seems to be the case with politics, too.
It’s also about seizing opportunity. Whether my campaign in VA-6 (incumbent Repub., me Independent/Whig, a Libertarian, no Dem.), or another of your choice — when you identify a campaign that has a chance to win or at least to get a broad audience for electoral reform, you have to compete in donations (even if small or tiny) as well as social media like the present.
It isn’t just about this or that party, or ideology. It’s about creating conditions in which more than two parties have a fighting chance. That’s where PR comes in and election reforms in general.
Excellent poll. Thank you.
Of course America has an excellent Green Party, if the media would take notice.
Either way the Green Party growth and candidate numbers are amazing…
[a] poor framing of image(s)
[b] infighting, including agents provacateur
[c] inappropriate symbolism (railing against the federal government while flaunting the eagle and eagle head!
= A good example of this would be the Seidenberg faction of the AIP.
pragmatic voter // Sep 19, 2010:
“Moderates/ pragmatists just can’t seem to unite ……….. they are not getting much traction.
third parties out there now are loaded with political ideology and, sometimes, religion.
pragmatic ideology , would offer a real alternative to any party in existence today. Is anyone interested a new political party like that? ”
[Lake: I believe that the hunger for such is literally palatable. How ever, the self regulating of the more ideological groups does have a purpose. My experience with the most famous ‘big tent’ ——— where I was begged to come aboard ——– of the 21st Century American alternative political scene, the Perot / Ventura / Nader reformist movement, is just sad. Big tents seem to attract every confidence artiste in the neighborhood. Theme song: ‘Gypsies,Tramps and Theives’?]
Moderate candidates for office are currently punished nearly out of existence by the two party + primary system.
If we went to approval voting, many more people of moderate demeanor and moderate policies would win.
see http://www.approvalvoting.org
It appears to be the case that bloggers who advocate moderate politics, new political parties and/or pragmatism over ideology know that they are not getting much traction. Moderates/ pragmatists just can’t seem to unite.
Maybe it is time to articulate a pragmatic secular ideology as a counterweight to what we have now. The third parties out there now are loaded with political ideology and, sometimes, religion. Trying more of that seems doomed to failure because it isn’t getting anywhere now. However, a pragmatic ideology (problem solving based on what works and not on liberal or conservative “solutions”), would offer a real alternative to any party in existence today. Is anyone interested a new political party like that? Just curious.
116 paulie // May 21, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Your screen names generally include “lake” or some version thereof, and/or “citizens for…” in the past. Your style is easy to recognize, in any case.
As far as the brouhaha about bylines on articles, Trent and I already explained that, if that has anything to do with what you are talking about …………
[Lake: again others, including those out side of the Silver State knew of Righthaven / Las Vegas Review Journal thuggery. It was not my ‘yob’ to in form the know it all / know nothing Mister Quirk. Also Coty Banks supposedly lives in Nevada ——– and he knows every thing, or seems to have an opinion there of ………..]
———- Hints of Quirk’s years of inappropriateness was given MONTHS AGO.
———- is Don Lake REALLY that smart
[a] poor framing of image(s)
[b] infighting, including agents provacateur
[c] inappropriate symbolism (railing against the federal government while flaunting the eagle and eagle head!
Many people when asked will give lip service to supporting a “third party” yet when election day rolls around will slip into the same old routine they’re accustomed to and support the “lesser evil” instead of voting for the (sometimes) ballot listed “third” choice.
http://tinyurl.com/23asyc6
nothing surprising here. Will Americans actually do something to support it? If not, they only need to look in the mirror for the “blame game”.