Self governance is no longer possible.

[dullard]

It's not that most people don't want third parties - see this year's approval numbers for either Presidential candidate.

Or even better, look at the actual party identification:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

As of the last poll:
Independent: 39%
Democrat: 31%
Republican: 28%.

So anyone's claim that "third parties aren't viable because most people don't want them" is completely oblivious to the fact that the plurality (highest percent but not an outright majority) of people want them. Independents have been the plurality for nearly 25 years with the exception of a slight dip around year 2004.

 

[fskimospy]

Or even better, look at the actual party identification:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

As of the last poll:
Independent: 39%
Democrat: 31%
Republican: 28%.

So anyone's claim that "third parties aren't viable because most people don't want them" is completely oblivious to the fact that the plurality (highest percent but not an outright majority) of people want them. Independents have been the plurality for nearly 25 years with the exception of a slight dip around year 2004.

An important thing to note though is that very few independents actually act like independents. For the most part their voting behavior is no different than self described partisans. It appears to be more of a social signaling than anything.

 

[dullard]

An important thing to note though is that very few independents actually act like independents. For the most part their voting behavior is no different than self described partisans. It appears to be more of a social signaling than anything.

With our system, they can't act like independents or they throw their vote away. So is it the chicken or the egg? I contend that they want to be independent, but are forced to lean into acting like one of the two parties.

 

[agent00f]

With our system, they can't act like independents or they throw their vote away. So is it the chicken or the egg? I contend that they want to be independent, but are forced to lean into acting like one of the two parties.

The only thing "independent" might imply is somewhat more centrist views, which is what the clinton democrats are known for accommodating to get some of that vote.