Third Parties & The Responsible Party Model
Third Parties
Sprouted up several times in U.S. History
Rarely win elections especially the presidential ones!
Types Of Third Parties
Cause Parties - Exists to champion one particular issue, or an "EXTREME" ideology
EX:
The Green Party or the Socialist Party USA
Splinter Parties - Created when a major party candidate fails to win and decides to run anyways, with a party that forms around him.
EX:
The Progressive ( "Bull Moose" ) party in 1912 for Theodore Roosevelt or American Independents n 1986 for G. Wallace
Personality Parties - Formed because some person just wants to run - hoping to appeal to voters who are just unhappy with the status quo
EX:
John Anderson in 1980 or Ross Perot in 1992 & 1996
They never win but why do they matter!?
Their ideas often outlasts the party themselves and sometimes will be adopted by the major parties.
They can alter election outcomes if people actually had voted for them!
Lots of Parties?!
It means more political views to identify with and more representation for people who don't identify with the majority parties at the time. Sometimes though, they can hold a lot more power than we bargain for!
If we had powerful third parties, then we would need a coalition government to get anything done and passed in the government. It means we have to have a lot of agreement on various topic matters.
If the old coalition breaks, we are going to need another election to create another coalition of parties to run our government. It's just really unstable!
America's Winner-Takes-All with the two party system is simple as you win and you can make laws, if you lose, you can't at all!
Responsible Party Model
Distinct, comprehensive policy platform
Candidates should stick to their own parties
Majority party should implements its agenda; minority should state its goals then wait and win the next time!
Majority party must accept responsibility for their performance in government
Pros: Things would get done and less gridlock! Voters would know who is to blame for the failing government.
Cons: Parties are too decentralised. No legal mechanisms to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do. Voting against your party happens
But in the end, it's too simplistic and that there are tonnes of variations of politicians! We want to allow politicians to vote for what they think is best for the government.