Please vote for any party. Seems 90%of the people are middle of the row and these two parties are run by their extreme wackos.
2006-10-31 13:35:16 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
When was the last time you heard of someone who wasn't a Republican or a Democrat who was elected to a national office? OK, there was Jim Jeffords a few years ago, but who else? There's your answer.
The Dem and Repug parties support individual candidates who to some extent are then more or less beholden to the party. They no longer are looking out for their constituents best interests, but rather those of the party and the supporters of the party.
That reminds me of a joke:
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced the altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted.
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The woman replied, "You are in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be a Democrat, " said the ballonist.
"I am, " said the woman. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."
The woman below responded. "You must be a Republican."
"I am" replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "You don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
2006-10-31 14:08:35 · answer #1 · answered by spongeworthy_us 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We shouldn't. It's this whole wasted vote symptom where the duopoly says if you vote for a third party, you'll elect the other party's candidate. Remember how Jesse Ventura won the governorship of Minnesota? I'll wager anything that if a third party in '08 win seats with only a plurality of the vote, the duopoly's going to cry and say "they didn't win with a majority". We have the Libertarians and Greens as the most important third parties and maybe Reform can come back. I know and understand how many of you feel: in many races, you have 1 or 2 choices and this is undemocratic. Forget about the ballot access, gerrymandering and PACs, we need a real democracy here. All parties should have the same amount of time to run their ads, debate and receive media coverage. Of course, you're not going to let a loony party enter the race either. But if people want a type of threshold, they should say like parties getting either 1% of the vote in any statewide race or 0.5% in any district race, as well as parties getting 2% of the state's voters' signatures or 1% of the district's voters' signatures, would be on the ballot, going to debates and receiving funds. Parties would be allowed this access for say 4 years. Next thing, we need to update our electoral system. Instant runoff voting is growing fast and we should use this system as it helps build coalitions between two likely-minded parties. Also any type of proportional representations systems should be used. I favor a mixed system because I don't see us moving to a full PR system. And we also need to either abolish the EC or reform it. I voted for an Indy in the Senate race and couldn't vote for a third party in any race, except the Governor's race where Reform was on but I voted for the Dem, who represented my views. I don't like how the duopoly is destroying our democracy. We need to unite and form a coalition to get some third party in Congress soon!!
2006-10-31 15:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by derekgorman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced the altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted.
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The woman replied, "You are in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be a republican, " said the ballonist.
"I am, " said the woman. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."
The woman below responded. "You must be a democrat."
"I am" replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "You don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
2006-10-31 13:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by Marty 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You're right, but unfortunately they need those party's backing to get enough votes to matter. They need the money, and only a very naive person would say that this great country's offices aren't well paid for.
2006-10-31 13:40:35 · answer #4 · answered by Old Cripple 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are the ones with the most money so the average Joe doesn't really hear about the other smaller parties because they can't afford to compete on the advertising circuit.
2006-10-31 13:37:26 · answer #5 · answered by luna 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are alot more. Just look up American Political Parties. Dems and Reps are the most popular.
2006-10-31 13:36:37 · answer #6 · answered by freakykittygoddess 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also would like to see party affilations done away with...
vote for the person ruiing--no party,,,,,,no gerrymandering--cancel all precints-ect....
run on you own merit.....
and limit campaign funds and
impose term limits.
president one six year term period.
senate 2 four year tems
house 3 four year terms
reduce this fat civil retirement and caeer politicians...
2006-10-31 13:39:29 · answer #7 · answered by cork 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They may be the most popular parties but there are a ton of independent parties as well
2006-10-31 16:29:13 · answer #8 · answered by eeeeeeeeclipse 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A suggestion. How about parties that represent the true make up of America... Parties which do not consist of mainly rich white people , who are racist, criminals, psychotics liars, pederasts, and homicidal maniacs.
2006-10-31 13:41:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
the two party system is an illusion to give people the impression that they have a choice between two different political philosophies.
2006-10-31 13:38:06 · answer #10 · answered by list 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋