Does anyone else support third party politics?

[creedog]

I've read quite a few posts here lately, and in the past, that basically paint the same bleak picture of American politics. Most people seem to vote against the other party, not for their party (want to get their candidate in office, but rather keep the other guy out)

Most people are complaining about the lack of good choices for the upcomming presidential elections, which really pisses me off. If everyone that I have heard bitch and complain about the current state of politics (and our two party system) actually voted their conscience, maybe the current state of ploitics might change. Just complaining about it wont change anything. Even if a third party candidate can't get elected, don't you think a major change in voting habits might cause the big two to stand up and take notice (and maybe even change).

Plus how may people, who are doing all this complaining are even the least bit involved in politics other that the occasional vote. I mean, some people have given their lives to live in a democracy, and many people in the USA don't even vote.

What's wrong with third party poletics.I realise the the reform party has basically shot themselves in the foot this year if they are going to run Buchanan, but the Libertarian Party is still going strong (and goining more and more support every day.) What about the green party, and Ralph Nader, he seemes to have his head on straight.

I just wish more people whould actually try to make a difference, instead of complain about the current state of things. Would a little change really hurt that bad?

 

[M00T]

i've gone to 3 parties in one night before
i was tired the next day though

 

[AMDJunkie]

I can't vote yet, so I'll continue bitchin' and moanin'!

George W. knows just about as much as my kid sister in about anything, except my sister can name al 151 Pokemon and he can't. So I guess my sister wins! He also speaks better Spanish than English with his "Double-Ya"s. Al Gore is a frickin' bore. A(ss)l(icker) Go(ober)re(tard) also prefers our oceans and trees over humans, not to mention he'd rather keep funding programs that don't work instead of giving the "rich" (aka the middle-class) a break.

 

[creedog]

AMD, just because you can't vote dosen't mean that you can't be interested and educated about third party politics. Obviously you already have some pretty strong opinions.

 

[AMDJunkie]

I'm interested in the complaining! Hell of a lot of fun!

Oh yeah:

~~~~ AMD Junkie for Dictator: Because you can do a lot worse! ~~~~

 

[creedog]

Red, true. If you are a a republican, you do not want the democrats to have control of both the executive and legislative branches, or vice versa. But this can also ensure that nothing every gets accomplished, and is another argument for a third party system.

 

[Triumph]

Well here's my opinion. the problem is the MEDIA. when was the last time you heard ANYTHING about Alan Keyes? Maybe 8 years ago, once. There are many more 3rd party candidates who have ideas that I'm sure would appeal to many Americans, but you know what? They won't give them any coverage, because the media for some reason thinks the public doesn't want to hear that: they think we want to see the Game that has become running for office. What a joke. I'll still vote, just because I feel bad about not contributing. But I might just be tempted to go for whoever's on the ballet that isn't named Gore or Bush.

 

[Ulfwald]

Go to this site, and the take th political quiz. It will tell you where you stand

http://www.self-gov.org/

It is also a very educational site regarding the Libertarian Party.

 

[reitz]

Triumph, Keyes is a Republican. I voted for him in the PA primary four years ago.

 

[creedog]

triumph, The media is only one thrid the proble. The first is the ballot, which many 3rd party candidates cannot even get on, or even participate in debates. the second are the supporters of thirds party candidates who don't try to spread the word about their cause. the media, and the lack of coverage, is the third

 

[Tominator]

The problem that everyone always seem to ignore is out tax system. As long as the Government controls us VIA out taxes you will never see any great change. This is the way Government controls us. Take away the money and you take away the power Government has.
The Republicans are trying to reduce taxes, and the Dems are trying to spend it all.
I'm voting Bush!

Gore continually 'gives away' money wherever he goes. I call that buying votes.
GW talks about tax cuts.

I'm voting Bush!

 

[Double Trouble]

Creedog, I agree wholeheartedly that people shouldn't just bitch about politics and not get involved.

However, once you do get involved, you quickly realize that politics is not about pricipals, ideas and things you stand for. Its a game dominated by money and media image. What you stand for and believe is not really an issue, so long as you can spend enough money and get the media to create a positive image and generate nice sound bytes for the average ignoramus in the 'public' to like you.

The two major parties in the current system have entrenched themselves into the system so well that effectively we, as the voting public, don't have too much of a choice. The 'other' parties don't stand a chance because they are either cooks (such as the treehugger green party), or they simply don't have the resources to make an impact.

Lets face it, our current political system is not exactly conductive to getting the best people into politics. Would you want your life put under a microscope, your name dragged through the mud for political reasons, your family harassed etc etc etc? Of course not.

Red: Good point. A 'mixed' congress vs whitehouse combination is enough of a 'balance' to keep the government from screwing things up too much. As conservative as I am, I'd rather see a mixed government than a straight republican house/senate/white house.

 

[Tominator]

<< I'd rather see a mixed government than a straight republican house/senate/white house. >>


Why? This Nation has NEVER had a Conservative President/Congress. It HAS had 30 years of Democrat majority screwups!

 

[BoberFett]

<< GW talks about tax cuts >>

Precisely, and that's the problem. The Reps talk a lot about lower taxes, but they're as bad as the Dems perhaps worse. Reps just spend the money in different places.

 

[AMDJunkie]

RD: I don't want any party in control, I want to be in control of my government! And I'm certainaly not going to give anything to those doofs! What America needs right now is a good dictator. One who isn't too tyranical, but stern enough to whip this country's ass back into shape. So, don't vote, force me into power!

 

[Tominator]

BoberFett Have you been away recently? No Newspapers? No TV?

Remember a man named Reagan?

Come on! You know better.

 

[Double Trouble]

<< I'd rather see a mixed government than a straight republican house/senate/white house. >>
<<Why? This Nation has NEVER had a Conservative President/Congress. It HAS had 30 years of Democrat majority screwups! >>

Why? Simple. I don't agree with republicans on all issues, just like I don't agree with the dems on all issues. It's just that for the most part the Reps make more sense than the Tax-and-spend-redistribution-of-wealth-government-handouts-mentality dems. Since we (realistically) only have two choices, it usually comes down to the lesser of two evils.

Hence, we're better off with a mixed bag. That way neither party has the power to completely dominate and implement their agenda exclusively.

I think the recent supreme court decisions illustrate the point well. The supreme court is now fairly well balanced between liberals and conservatives, and I think they've done a pretty good job over the last year. I don't agree with all of their decisions, but for the most part they're pretty balanced. An &quot;all conservative&quot; court would quickly turn into the 'moral majority' on the bench and would try to shove their view of morality down everyone's throat. An &quot;all liberal&quot; bench would turn the country into a PC nightmare designed by &quot;Diane Feinstein&quot; - minded morons. With a balance, we get better decisions.

 

[jaydee]

Look what Alan Keyes did with about no advertising He would be an awesome president. Didn't he say no more income taxes or something like that?

 

[Buddha Bart]

So long as people remain the docile, simple minded, easily distracted cows they are, nothing will change.

both liberalism and conservatism are nothing but reactionary, and illogical positions.

And both socialism/communism, and libertarianism/anarchy are far to optimistic with the current stock of human folk.

bart