Over the last few weeks, in opinion pieces for college and university newspapers across the country, students have stepped up their criticism of the reigning two-party state and duopoly system of government. AJ Warne writes for the Daily Athenaeum, out of West Virginia University, and argues that the “rise of a third (or fourth) party will better the political landscape.” An excerpt:
The United States is taking leaps and bounds toward a more effective and self-regulating political system even if it is going unnoticed. The bipartisan system that has constipated the political processes of this country for the greater part of its existence is beginning to change a little each year, but this year more than any other in the past.
The changes taking place in the United States are very important and should force voters in every state to look beyond the party of their parents and the normative party lines seemingly etched in stone from generations before. The abandonment of a strict left or right political system will instigate political creativity, foster better political cooperation and ultimately benefit the American people. For the past several elections, candidates who are not typical of one party or another have started popping up all over the map. . . . .
It is asinine to believe the political beliefs of an entire nation can be lumped into two aged categories. The advent of parties that do not follow the conventional left or right of center dichotomy will lead to systemic changes and benefits that will be reaped by the entire nation. This will make policymaking more difficult, but more good will come from the increased labor to bear the same policy fruit.
In another piece, from Brittany Forell, writing at the Standard Online out of Missouri State University, the author reminds her fellow students that “voters have a third option on election day.” Excerpt:
[a] WHICH missouri state campus
[b] and in california, top two ………..
NO NEW THIRD PARTIES HERE!
If you want to stop the two-party system, then just join with the other existing third parties in place, Ok?!
Lake, click on the link if you care and do your own research, not that that has much to do with anything.
Poli-Tea’s article is a sampling of student opinions about moving beyond the duopoly. I reproduced part of it here. The rest is at
http://politeaparty.blogspot.com/2010/11/student-columnists-blast-two-party.html
Quirk,
I don’t see how your comment relates to this article, but since you decide to go there…what is the difference between that attitude and that of those people who say we should just go Democrat or Republican?
Quirk,
I don’t see how your comment relates to this article, but since you decide to go there…what is the difference between that attitude and that of those people who say we should just go Democrat or Republican?
= That’s just like asking what’s the difference between a philosophical libertarian and a anarchist.
Kind of. You seem to be more of an advocate of an ideology through a third party rather than an advocate for a better democracy.
Hey, I also want to have a multi-party system in our government and would like to see the Green Party get in as well as a alternate party of the Left side of the spectrum.
I work to do both of the two things you mentioned.
paulie, here is an excellent opportunity to help young people who you blindly venerate to course correct& channel their energy.
There are already third parties & since they always pick a losing-nonfusion-ticket, an Independent ticket could unite & win.
This is PLAS. Which you scoff at.
You are a misleader & self righteous loser.
I continue to be amazed at you & Tom failing to understand PLAS. After repeatedly explaining it. After repeated examples.
I guess I’ll have to proceed without you(plural).
#2 Cody, what political party do you self proclaim? Currently I’m registered Free and Equal Party, and I proclaim to be with the Free Parliamentary Party. Under the rules implemented in by the ruling coalition (biggest majority) in The USA Parliament, Inc., one may register with the state as they wish, and proclaim to be something else. People have their resons, so give them the freedom to be what they wish.
You ask people not to start new parties, but people want to be individuals, and to test market new ideas. A party name (or independent) is a way to attract a vote, when the voter is in the voting booth.
Many existing parties consist of control freaks who don’t want you to be original and compete with them on the ballot. Hence they drive away people who want to be different and also want to be individuals.
#7 Robert, what is PLAS? I click on your name, and the link is broken, you know.
#2 Cody, what political party do you self proclaim?
= Obviously you haven’t been here long- I’m with the Independent American Party (the Nevada affiliate of the Constitution Party), and we just elected 4 people to partisan offices on Tuesday.
You ask people not to start new parties, but people want to be individuals, and to test market new ideas. A party name (or independent) is a way to attract a vote, when the voter is in the voting booth.
= Yet if we keep starting new parties and keep splitting the vote and dividing the movement to end the two-party system, then we will accomplish NOTHING! We will win nothing if we have all these political groups that are too small to make any difference and people keep breaking off of them to make matters worse.
Maybe having 60 or so political parties may work in the Philippines, but it won’t work here.
“#7 Robert, what is PLAS? I click on your name, and the link is broken, you know.”
Uh oh… here it comes…
It isn’t so much the link that’s broken as Mr. Milnes’ sanity.
In general, I agree with Cody. However, as in the case of the Alaska (AIP), when a party has become corrupted or otherwise publicly imploded, sometimes the only viable option is to start another party.
PLAS=paulie the losing asshole sucks.
Bobby! That is just plain naughty!
Progressive 27% Libertarian 13% Alliance + Strategy=40%-winning plurality in a defacto 3 way race.
Now tell Ogle where you get your numbers…
oops.I forgot to add E=mc squared.
Oh you… you’re such a card!
Say it phonetically….
Jake?
no, say the whole thing including the suit.
This thread, which had so much potential, has so far been a demonstration of what happens in…
“…what happens in…” IPR, The World According to paulie. He misses the points made by Cody & disses PLAS.
Club your Jack?
No, in proper sequence. Phonetically.
Jack O’Clubs? Jack of clubs? Oh,oh I know… I know (puts hand in the air and waves energetically) Jack off club! Whew! That was easy. Let’s do another!
How about we try to get this thread on track instead?
Here’s the rest of the article from poli-tea:
Finally, in an opinion piece for The New Hampshire, out of the University of New Hampshire, Nick Murray argues against the old cliche that voting third party is “throwing your vote away.” Excerpt:
Update: Today, writing at The North Wind, out of Northern Michigan University, Ryan Haskell argues that “America is not a two-party system.” Excerpt: