I'm sick and tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I'm disgusted by the medias focus on the two major parties until the last week before the election. NOW is the time for viable third (fourth and fifth) parties to make their move and insinuate themselves into popular culture and the national consciousness. Dammit, give me something to be proud to vote for.
caseclosed
New Blood
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2004
- Messages
- 17
Badnarik was on the ballot in 49 states. He had some adds, you have to look into 3rd party canidates. You have to be famous before you run, or have a couple billion dollars. The media won't take a chance talking about a no-body. It won't happen, people have to make the move and become interested. 
Originally posted by caseclosed
Badnarik was on the ballot in 49 states. He had some adds, you have to look into 3rd party canidates.
I did look at Badnarik. I didn't like him, and I've never been impressed by the Libertarian party.
You have to be famous before you run, or have a couple billion dollars. The media won't take a chance talking about a no-body. It won't happen, people have to make the move and become interested.
Which is the whole point of my post. If alternate parties expect to have a chance in the next presedential election, they have to make themselves known NOW. Nader hardly stuck his head out until after the democratic primary, and then he did nothing but whine. This is the time for anyone interested in offering a viable alternative to make themselves known.
Badnarik was on the ballot in 49 states. He had some adds, you have to look into 3rd party canidates.
I did look at Badnarik. I didn't like him, and I've never been impressed by the Libertarian party.
You have to be famous before you run, or have a couple billion dollars. The media won't take a chance talking about a no-body. It won't happen, people have to make the move and become interested.
Which is the whole point of my post. If alternate parties expect to have a chance in the next presedential election, they have to make themselves known NOW. Nader hardly stuck his head out until after the democratic primary, and then he did nothing but whine. This is the time for anyone interested in offering a viable alternative to make themselves known.
Marquis de Carabas
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2002
- Messages
- 27,071
The unfortunate problem is that most Americans either don't want a third party, since they miraculously actually like one of the big two, or they don't want to risk a third party, since it's viewed as a waste of a vote.
And the only way the above is going to change is through either time, or some major political dynamo from a third party. Either the parties will have to keep running from the ground up, getting a member of Congress here, a governor there, until they're large enough to be a serious contender, or some third party is going to have to have a Strom Thurmond or a Ted Kennedy. (Not in terms of politics, but in terms of impact.)
Until then, we're screwed. Don't blame me, I voted for Mercutio.
And the only way the above is going to change is through either time, or some major political dynamo from a third party. Either the parties will have to keep running from the ground up, getting a member of Congress here, a governor there, until they're large enough to be a serious contender, or some third party is going to have to have a Strom Thurmond or a Ted Kennedy. (Not in terms of politics, but in terms of impact.)
Until then, we're screwed. Don't blame me, I voted for Mercutio.
Third parties will never have a significant presence in federal offices until some kind of electoral reform takes place. The fact that, under the current system, a divided vote can result in someone the majority of people dislike being elected will mean that a significant number of people will never vote for a third party. And their position is not completely without merit.
Third parties are insane to try to run presidential candidates in this climate. It's a total waste of time and money. They talk about raising visibility, but has it worked? Third parties received barely 1% of the popular vote this last election. Even Ross Perot, that creepy, crazy old man, got 19% -- his siphoning of votes changed the result of the 1992 election, and people know it. They've learned their lesson about divided votes. Third parties won't be major players again.
That is, unless we adopt instant-runoff voting, or another modern electoral system. That is what independents should be focusing all of their time and money on. Running candidates just wastes their money, and makes them look dumb. People see Nader or Badnarik or Cobb, and they don't say, "Ah, the saviors of the American republic!" They say, "That guy says he wants to be president. Isn't that cute? Bless his little heart!"
They call it "grassroots" because you have to work from the bottom up. At least, I think they do.
Jeremy
Third parties are insane to try to run presidential candidates in this climate. It's a total waste of time and money. They talk about raising visibility, but has it worked? Third parties received barely 1% of the popular vote this last election. Even Ross Perot, that creepy, crazy old man, got 19% -- his siphoning of votes changed the result of the 1992 election, and people know it. They've learned their lesson about divided votes. Third parties won't be major players again.
That is, unless we adopt instant-runoff voting, or another modern electoral system. That is what independents should be focusing all of their time and money on. Running candidates just wastes their money, and makes them look dumb. People see Nader or Badnarik or Cobb, and they don't say, "Ah, the saviors of the American republic!" They say, "That guy says he wants to be president. Isn't that cute? Bless his little heart!"
They call it "grassroots" because you have to work from the bottom up. At least, I think they do.
Jeremy