Monday, July 16, 2007

Most Americans Believe That a 3rd Party is Needed

WASHINGTON — Most Americans, unhappy with both the Republican president and the Democratic-controlled Congress, say it's time for a third political party. Not that they're necessarily ready to vote for one.

In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday, 58% say the two major parties are doing "such a poor job" that a third party is needed. Just a third say the established parties "do an adequate job of representing the American people."

In a hypothetical three-way race for president, the man who has parried questions about whether he'll run as an independent candidate, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, takes 12% of the vote in a race that also includes Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Rudy Giuliani. Clinton leads Giuliani, 45%-39%.

Whom does Bloomberg hurt? He draws from both but seems to nick Giuliani, his predecessor at City Hall, a bit more. With Bloomberg in the race, Clinton beats Giuliani by 6 points. In a two-way contest in the USA TODAY Poll in June, the New York senator led him by 4 points, 50%-46%.

Bloomberg draws 5% of Democrats, 8% of Republicans, 22% of independents — and 18% of those who want a third party.

The billionaire businessman has appeal down the middle of the electorate. He does better with those who have annual household incomes of $30,000 to $74,999 than among those who earn more or less than that. He does better among moderates than either liberals or conservatives.

Predictably, he does twice as well among city dwellers than those in rural areas. Surprisingly, he also does better among those in the Midwest than those on the East or West coasts. He's stronger among men than women.

And he is relatively well-known: Just 11% have never heard of him. Among those who have, 36% have a favorable view of him; 27% have an unfavorable one.
John Bibby, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and co-author of Two Parties — or More? The American Political System, is skeptical that a third party in general or Bloomberg in particular has any realistic chance of winning the White House in 2008. "American politics is structured against it," he says.

Still, the current political climate is receptive to a third-party appeal, he says, as it was in 1992, when Ross Perot claimed one-fifth of the popular vote. Americans are "distrustful of politicians in general, and when you have not much seemingly being accomplished by either the Congress or the administration, it's kind of a natural reaction," Bibby says.
"People know the system is broken," says Doug Bailey, co-founder of Unity08, a group that proposes to field a third-party ticket in 2008.

Neither side now gets high marks from the public. President Bush's disapproval rating reached a high of 66% in the July Gallup Poll, and the June Poll put Congress' disapproval rating even higher, at 71%.

Bloomberg has dismissed talk of an independent presidential bid that was fueled when he announced last month he was dropping his GOP affiliation. He had been a life-long Democrat until he decided to run for mayor in 2001.

He may be part of a trend: 43% of those surveyed in the new survey identify themselves as independents — significantly more than call themselves Democrats or Republicans. That proportion hasn't been higher in close to a decade.

(Source)

Then why has it been so hard to start a 3rd and 4th Party? Is it because money has taken over politics? The rules roadblocks that the Democrats and Republicans have put in place, have made it almost impossible for viable alternative Parties to emerge. Something will have to be done to make Party formation easier and for ballot access to be more open.

It is clear that the people want viable alternatives to the 2 existing legacy Parties.

4 comments:

unitybroth said...

Angry Independent, the article mentions Unity08 as a potential alternative choice. What are your thoughts on our movement?

Bob Roth
VP Online Marketing
Unity08

Brian said...

I fully support the efforts of Unity O8. Your site has been linked here for quite a while.

However, in its current form, I am not 100% sure if that would be a longterm solution. As the name "Unity 08"... implies, it gives the impression that it is a temporary movement.

What I was referring to was a permanent 3rd and 4th Party that could be large enough to at least create leverage and force the two major parties to compete for its allegiance. Eventually however, I would hope that a 3rd, 4th, 5th Party (or more) could stand on their own as major political Parties.... able to compete with (or surpass) the Democrat and Republican Parties. The two major parties seem more and more out of touch with the needs and concerns of the American people....and of the rest of the planet.

Although Unity 08 (in my opinion) may not be a longterm solution as it stands now, it could help to establish the foundation for a permanent Party. The first move would be a name change to something more permanent...and establishing an indepenedent progressive platform. It could use the green party as a model...perhaps without so much of the green activism. It would have to be a platform that supports a strong military defense (just not an imperialist one that launches unnecessary wars), and a more responsible U.S. foreign policy.

It must also respect international law and international institutions such as the UN....without signing over our national security to the organization.

Any new platform must also push for responsible and effective homeland security measures, revamp immigration to make it more secure, protect the borders, and go after companies that hire illegal immigrants. It must also support some sort of reform that would allow for a limited (or as needed) amount of guest workers.

A new platform must also rid this country of its dependence on foreign energy... push for electric, hydrogen, hybrid and other technologies to power our vehicles and must push for a green energy future... where solar and wind power technology will be routine rather than the exception in our homes and workplaces.

Any new platform should also push for election reform... where big money becomes less of a factor in U.S. elections and where voting is more accessible and fair.

There should be public funding of elections...where all candidates get the same amount of money. Only a limited amount (10-20 %) of funds could be accepted from private donations... or we could eliminate donations altogether...especially corporate money. Also, candidates should get the same amount of TV time.

Debates should be more open to alternative Parties. The Commission on Presidential Elections should be eliminated. (the organization set up by Republicans and Democrats to keep alternative Party candidates from participating). Alternative Party candidates should also get easier ballot access across the nation.

There should also be consideration given towards eliminating the Electoral College and replacing this system of 50 separate and unequal elections, with a popular vote...or a combination of a popular vote and some other mechanism so that the interests of smaller States can be protected.

The Attorney General should also be made into an independent office- someone who doesn't work directly for the President...but is elected by the people every 4 years or every 6 years...in a national popular vote election. That would help to eliminate a lot of the corruption in Washington D.C. and could help take politics out of the Justice Department.

If Unity 08 could support a platform like this... a populace platform... then I think that it could be the foundation for a great political Party.

The next step would be to recruit and run very strong candidates for Congress and for the Presidency. People who's qualifications would not be in doubt...and people who would be electable. The problem with alternative Parties in recent history has been that they run candidates who are unelectable. That has to change. There are plenty of talented people out there who would make fine candidates.... Unity 08 will have to find them. Recruiting politicians from existing Political parties and seasoned government officials should also be considered....at least in the first few years to help build up the Party.

Of course a lot of these things...such as a truly independent Justice Department and a Popular Vote Vs. the Electoral College would require amending the Constitution... and are unlikely to change....but at least some of these matters could be helped with simple legislation. Someone has to get the conversation started.

unitybroth said...

Well said.

Our intention is to put America back on course by giving a much-needed jolt to the two-party system. This jolt will help them understand that partisan, fringe-based politics is not sustainable.

If the major parties witness our success and enact positive change, then Unity08 has served its purpose. We’d rather preserve the two-party system that has been successful in this country for such a long time. But, if the major parties ignore the message, a Unity Party could replace one, or both, of them. It will be up to Unity08’s members to determine whether we seek this course of action.

I look forward to discussing this with you when we reach the time to rank the important issues and formulate the questions we want to ask the candidates seeking the Unity08 nomination.

Sincerely,
Bob Roth

Grundy said...

People don't vote for third parties because they think they are throwing their vote away. I think the internet can be used to bring enough people together behind a party to create enough confidence to vote it in. I'm trying to make a central location on the web with this in mind.

If you are interested, what we have is at:
www.politicl.com