Recent Gallup Polls, network, and newspaper surveys have shown deep and widespread dissatisfaction with the performance and posturing of both major parties in the just-concluded debt ceiling debacle. Whatever their political orientation, large segments of the electorate reported themselves appalled and disgusted by the contentious and unyielding partisan warfare which almost put the United States government in default.
A Third Party Solution?
The oft-quoted New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, writing on July 31, gave favorable notice to a group called Americans Elect. Sensing the unhappiness of many citizens with the leaders of the Republican and Democratic Parties and the manner in which they choose their Presidential candidates, the organization is going directly to the public with a "third party" solution.
The new group plans to make it possible to vote by Internet for a nominee for President entirely independent of the nominating processes of the two major parties and to have that nominee on the ballot in every state. As of August 3, American Elect claimed on its web site that it had already gathered more than 1.75 million signatures endorsing its novel approach, was "well on its way" to securing ballot access in all states, and planned to hold a convention next June.
Third Party Past Performance
Although third parties have entered the Presidential race frequently, none has ever elected its candidate or even come close. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was the most successful, out-polling his old Republican Party with 27.5 percent of the vote, and just making it easier for Democrat Woodrow Wilson to be elected.
Closer to our time, business entrepreneur H. Ross Perot made two well-financed runs at the White House. In 1992, he won an impressive 19 percent of the vote but finishing third behind Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and President George H. W. Bush. Four years later, he got less than half that amount as Clinton was reelected.
In close elections, however, the results can be impacted by even a modest third party showing. Carrying the same Reform Party name in 2000 that Perot had borne previously, Ralph Nader won only 2.7 percent of the vote. But many observers contend that his votes in key states, especially in Florida, would have otherwise gone to Vice President Al Gore and would have sealed the latter's election.
Is History a Guide?
If history is a guide, the electorate will stick with the two established parties. But nobody knows yet how much the public has been ticked off by both parties by their recent behavior and how long that feeling will last. And no one has ever given voters the chance to choose by Internet.
Source: ThisNation.com-What is the History of ThirdParties?
David Hornestay - DavidH began a career as a freelancer after 34 years in government management. Keeping a hand in as a consultant in federal human ...
