A new political party in America? - Is it a pipe dream?

[Classist.]

I've heard for most of my life that the political/electoral system of the United States is set up so that there can realistically only be two major parties. However historically those parties have changed over time (for example the Federalists and Whigs are totally gone, even if some of their ideas linger on in their successors). It seems to me that things at least feel a bit unstable, and people seem to be looking for alternatives to the status quo (thus figures like Trump and Bernie). Given the current political climate, do you think that the destruction of one or both parties is likely or even possible and if so what sort of entity would replace it? I could even see a new up-and-coming party taking on one or both, although I think it would be very difficult without so sort of economic disaster. I don't think that the current neocon/neoliberal system can go on forever, and am really looking forward to seeing what replaces it.

 

[mr.moon1488]

I could see it happening, but I suspect that if it does, it will be from people inside of the respective parties breaking off into their own party. This will most likely happen in congress first. A third party presidential candidate hasn't even carried a state since 1968. (George Wallace)

 

[A Logging Company]

I could see a left-wing break off from dems or a strong enough defection to something like the DSA happening. While woketards would have more pull, it would help combat corruption in states where you just have to bribe and butterup the state's Dems, and give republicans a fighting chance in states like CA again.

I could see it happening, but I suspect that if it does, it will be from people inside of the respective parties breaking off into their own party. This will most likely happen in congress first. A third party presidential candidate hasn't even carried a state since 1968. (George Wallace)

A viable 3rd party is going to grow gradually from getting city positions and state congress seats.

 

[Clop]

The Democratic party has been so divided for a while now that I'd be surprised if they survived without splitting. I'm still dumbfounded that the US has managed this long with only two parties.

 

[Dick Pooman]

It would be entertaining to see how a Bull Moose type party could fuck up the left like it did the right back in the day.

 

[mr.moon1488]

I could see a left-wing break off from dems or a strong enough defection to something like the DSA happening. While woketards would have more pull, it would help combat corruption in states where you just have to bribe and butterup the state's Dems, and give republicans a fighting chance in states like CA again.



A viable 3rd party is going to grow gradually from getting city positions and state congress seats.

I think the libertarian party has always shot itself in the foot by trying to run for stuff like the presidential office, or senate seats, but not really even trying to run for something like a mayor's seat, or sheriff's position first.

 

[AF 802]

I think the libertarian party has always shot itself in the foot by trying to run for stuff like the presidential office, or senate seats, but not really even trying to run for something like a mayor's seat, or sheriff's position first.

The successful libertarians always seem to run on the Republican side, like Ron Paul.

 

[Slap47]

Left wing parties get infiltrated by retarded left wing academics and college students (Ketchup, Soy Sauce) and right wing parties get infiltrated by edgelords.

Yeah, the two party system is set in stone. Parties can be replaced but there will always be two.

 

[Terminus Est]

This nigger thinks a new political party or system will somehow cause politicians and their political party to actually care about the people who voted them into power. You're living in fantasy land if you think any politician gives a shit about the people who vote for them. Politicians are all shit. No matter which side they are on.

 

[Classist.]

You're living in fantasy land if you think any politician gives a shit about the people who vote for them. Politicians are all shit. No matter which side they are on.

That seems a bit cynical to me. I agree that many politicians are morally bankrupt or corrupt but I'm not sure that they all are. I think that there are some really amazing people in in the government who legitimately are doing their best for their community and nation, however I think that these people are generally ignored because 'PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DOES A FINE JOB, REJECTS BRIBE' doesn't sell newspapers. Generally I would say that people go into politics for all sots of reasons, and some of the are decent and some aren't because they're just people like you or me.

 

[Slap47]

This nigger thinks a new political party or system will somehow cause politicians and their political party to actually care about the people who voted them into power. You're living in fantasy land if you think any politician gives a shit about the people who vote for them. Politicians are all shit. No matter which side they are on.

Parties revive and degenerate.

The Republican Party started as a populist party to push social change (slavery, poverty) but gave that shit up to get the pro-business Rutherford B. Hayes in power.

In the 1920s they were reborn and pushed forward a progressive agenda but again degenerated as the business interests took back power.

Then they went to the fundies and then back to populism under Trump.

The Dems have been more about their elites ability to pick good leaders in backroom deals but that might change soon.

 

[ICametoLurk]

No. The GOP and Dems are based upon the historical struggle between Land and Sea.

 

[nonvir_1984]

Great question I've been pondering it too. The Democrats could easily split - much as Huey Long almost did to them in the 1930s, prior to his assassination. And the Republicans are not as cohesive. They like the power, but monied conservatives find the Donald too erratic and unpredictable. But where would they go? All in all, the system is set up for two major parties, at a national level.

 

[IAmNotAlpharius]

Great question I've been pondering it too. The Democrats could easily split - much as Huey Long almost did to them in the 1930s, prior to his assassination. And the Republicans are not as cohesive. They like the power, but monied conservatives find the Donald too erratic and unpredictable. But where would they go? All in all, the system is set up for two major parties, at a national level.

In a way, each party has parties in it. They may not be official designations but there’s certainly a difference between neocons, Trump Republicans, and fundies. With the Democrats there’s the progressive wing, the business establishment, and all the minorities they appeal to.

 

[SilkGnut]

The Whigs? You mean the remnants of the Anti-Masonic Party (and the fathers of The American Party who birthed my handsome avatar)?

Nah we ain't gonna be having any more of THAT.

Any time a party splits it dooms the ideologies it most closely represents. Until the setup changes (it is designed the way it is on purpose) there will never be a viable third party.

 

[WhoIsSutterKane]

The democrat party will probably split eventually. Traditional democrats and the communist party of America.

 

[Lemmingwise]

I think there is already enough room for four political parties in the US.

It's a miracle that Trump even managed to not be cockblocked by the GOP and the chasm between Hillary and Bernie was huge.

The problem is that the system has a very heavy bias against new groups and either party that allows such fracturing will be shooting itself in the foot. The UK, who have a somewhat comparable system, area starting to see this, with a rather sizeable non-labour, non-tory group. The euroskeptics. First under ukip, now united under brexit party. There is the potential for that to grow.

The US is stronger and more united and don't have the sacrifice of sovereignity to the soviet states of the EU.

There is similar divide, with young right wing people's desire for social right wing politics and young left wing people's desire for a non-corporate left wing platform.

I think the UK is about 8-10 years from a true fracturing and having a third party be a genuine contender and I think the US is at least 20 years from such a scenario. But when you look back, it's last election where that divide began.

 

[AF 802]

Make the third party some sort of autisticdragonkin-level form of religious inspired politics, so we can become even more retarded than we were.

 

[Gravityqueen4life]

join the incel party. we want to make prison food more enjoyable, free or lessen the sentence of any drug use,murder therapists and remove pharmaceutical drugs entirely.

 

[Classist.]

There is similar divide, with young right wing people's desire for social right wing politics and young left wing people's desire for a non-corporate left wing platform.

Do you think that these two groups would be more likely to be bitter rivals for ideological reasons or do you think they could settle their differences long enough to work together?