Monday, July 14, 2008

The Need For a True Third Party

If you are anything like me you are probably sick to death of the partisan politics that run our government. The people, us, truly do not have a voice anymore. I firmly believe that America needs a third party that is a true representation of the majority of voters. Our two main parties have become so polarizing that most voters don’t really fit into either one anymore.

I registered to vote when I turned 18. That was 12 years ago. I was raised in a household where both parents were Democrats and I adopted their political beliefs. As I started learning more about politics and our government I felt the Democratic Party wasn’t truly an accurate representation of my beliefs. The alternative, the Republican Party, was even further from my vision for our country. The problem then becomes that there are all of these "minor" parties you can belong to, but none have the lasting power that the two major parties have. There is the Green party, the Centrists, the Independents, the Libertarians, the Whigs (Yes, that is still a party. My husband is registered as one). None of them ever make a legitimate run at the Presidency. It’s a waste of a vote.

I consider myself to be a Moderate. Some say I’m a conservative liberal while others say I’m a liberal conservative. Whatever! It doesn’t make much difference. I know what I believe and unfortunately those beliefs don’t fit into the neat little boxes of our 2 party political system. I believe in many of the social and educational philosophies of a Democrat. I believe our govt. should pay for healthcare and education. I don’t personally believe in abortion, but I don’t think it is the govt. place to tell a woman she can’t have one. I also have many of the moral convictions most often aligned with Republican values. I think we need to close our borders and quit spending our tax dollars on all the Mexicans who cross ILLEGALLY. I don’t believe in gay marriage or civil unions. What am I to do? This is where a true 3rd party would come in handy. Someone to represent the masses. Let’s face it. Both parties have veered so far right and so far left they are hardly recognizable anymore. It would be nice if we "Big Party Refugees" had a new party to call our own.

2 comments:

Gena B. said...

Interesting. I haven't given that much thought. I don't know how realistic that is, but it is interesting.

Moxymama said...

This is the first election since I've been able to vote that I am seriously considering not casting a vote for President. I don't know if I can in good conscious vote for either one of them. This would be the year for a 3rd party nominee.