A Good Strategy for "3rd" Parties in the USA
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
July 13, 2008 1:52am CST
One of the problems facing all the "3rd" parties in the US is convincing peope that voting 3rd party isn't a "wasted vote". The two major parties have done a great job of convincing people that they somehow have a right to your vote, and there is no reason to even consider someone else.
There are a few "swing states" in America, but the majority of people in most states seem to vote for the same party over and over. So, if you live in a state dominated by one party, then (using the logic of the major parties), any vote for either party's candidate is a "wasted" vote. Either you are casting yet another of an ocean of votes for the same person, or you are casting one of only a few votes for the minority party's candidate.
The "3rd" parties are missing out on a great opportunity here. What they should be doing is courting voters of both parties who feel like their vote is meaningless. Say you are a Democrat in Utah. Utah is a state so far in the Republican Party pocket that Bill Clinton actually came in 3rd place.
Just think of all the Republians in Vermont who show up to the polls every election year and cast their vote for someone who isn't going to win. It's a miracle they even continue to show up.
If the 3rd parties would recruit members among the disaffected in both parties of individual states, it wouldn't be long before they were affecting local and state elections. In a local election 1% changing their voting habits is huge. There have been state elections where the a county went to the winner by a margin of a handful of votes.
It's time the 3rd parties quit accepting the 2nd Class status thrust upon them by the major parties. The only way either of them will ever do some good is if they adopted sound strategies instead of just whining that the big 2 won't let them eat at the big table.
4 people like this
4 responses
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
13 Jul 08
How about that the percent of each part won gets that representation in the politics? That's what many countries do in Europe. So if 70% of votes go to Democrat candidate, then 20% go to the third party candidate, and 10% goes to Republican candidate then that's how much representation that each of those parties should have in Congress. The democrat candidate won the election BUT 20% of the third party's group is represented in Congress and 10% goes to the Republican party. So let's say the state gets 10 representatives in Congress 7 should be democrat, 2 should be 3rd party & 1 should be Republican. So even though the Democrat candidate won there is representation in Congress by the other parties 
Pablo
Pablo@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Jul 08
That could work, if the a state decided to go that way with their Congressional Disstricts. Personally, I can't find anywhere in the U.S. Constitution that allows for parties to be represented in Congress in the first place.
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
13 Jul 08
The only way a 3rd party will become a success is to look back into the past and see how other third parties succeded. History says that for a smaller party were regional party like the Dixiecrats, or a one issue party like the Republicans were when it was founded with ending slavery. The problem is that all of todays 3rd parties what to campaign in every state and on every issue. So state are better for success than other. Take for instance the Libertarian party, they would do themself a favor if they just would campaign in states that do not have a large government employee base, like NH. Campaigning in VA is a waist of time, 1/5 of everyone living in VA works for the government. The Constitutional party would do better in a border state being overrun with illegals. Running an stop the invasion in a state like Maine would not make much sense. Greenies which I really could careless to help would to themselve a favor in campaigning in the Pacific coast state. Running a stop hunting campaign in a state like AR just does not make any sense.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Jul 08
That's pretty much the point of what I'm saying. Their strategies need to be at the state and local level. Your suggestions (which are good) are based on issues, mine is based on tapping into the growing number of people who feel their vote doesn't make a difference at any level.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
14 Jul 08
That sounds like a good strategy to me. I'd really love to see more viable 3rd party candidates at all levels but the problem with them being competitive in statewide or national races is the almighty dollar. There has to be some way to take money out of politics, or at least the need for so MUCH of it. To me it would seem much easier today than even a few years ago because of the internet but it still costs far too much for an unknown person with no major party backing to get noticed by the people and the media. One thing I've noticed personally here in my area of Pennsylvania is the younger people aren't at all interested in party affiliation, they really do vote for the candidate rather than the party IF they vote. This year there has been a lot of them deciding to vote in some cases for the first time in their lives. Now I should clarify that when I say "younger people" I'm not talking about college students but of young parents in their mid to late twenties to their early forties. My husband and I have been very active in our grandkids activities since they've been small so I've gotten to know many parents of the players and cheerleaders in midget football, Little League and Teener League and the youth swim teams and what I've noticed is many of these parents were never all that active in politics, they've been so busy working and raising their kids, carting them around to games and practices sometimes seven days a week. They're now hurting financially in some cases and they're also becoming weary of the war and when they decide who to vote for they really couldn't care less whether the person has an "R" or a "D" after their name. I think it's only a matter of time before we see a serious contender for President from a party other than Democratic or Republican if they're allowed to get their messages out.
Annie
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
14 Jul 08
You are right, i wasn't even aware that a 3rd. party was going to be on the ballot! I found out by accident when he (Robert Barr) was on the Glenn Beck show! All parties should be put on a set budget so ALL of them can actually campaingen and this millions of dollars that is wasted on these high profile mud-slinging (let's face it that is what it all boils down to) that we have to listen to for months on end will stop, or better yet just publish their views and past record, and stand on the issues (they couldn't flip-flop) with no idenifing information just parties 1,2&3 so that people would have to vote for the one that makes sense.Of course that is never going to happen but it is a nice fantasy.
