Opinion How possible would it be for a credible third party to be created in America?

[The XL]

Not going to happen. Both parties are controlled opposition bought and paid by the global elite. Democracy doesn't exist in the US, and they're not going to allow it to start now.

 

[sickc0d3r]

Until and unless we start using ranked-choice voting, it's not happening.

Came here to say this. Maybe if people no longer feel like they have to vote for the lesser evil, some third party candidates would stand a chance. BUT, you still need quality people for candidates. "Quality politician" is a bit of an oxymoron these days.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Semi credible? They've peaked mate..

I'm not a fan of the party, but I do think they're an example of how a smaller party can change political discourse. Even if they never win them doing well sent a clear message that there were issues the main parties weren't addressing that they weren't dealing with (even if I don't think Reform would actually do anything about immigration really).

 

[Lead]

We have more than two parties. It’s the system set up that causes it to diverge into two.

What you mostly see happen the past decade or two is some obscure party try to run for president and fail but possibly “steal” votes from a candidate.

I believe the true way this could be done is a much other path. You need to get states and localities to change to ranked choice voting which doesn’t cause a spoiler system. Overtime, grassroot parties would emerge and possibly win house seats and even a senate seat over time. The parties might just be a more left or more right party that still would work with their original party in Congress but it would be a little bit more like parliament in deal marking between groups happening post election since it would become harder to have a one party majority.

What I said above is something like a multi decade project. We saw states like Maine do this already and some others have adopted it like NY primaries. What then will be the big hurdle is say all the above happens. You still essentially have a spoiler system at the presidential level due to the electoral college but it would be a little different as it would result in no one winning enough electoral votes and having Congress pick the winner. So again, it would become a lot more like parliament. You could always amend the constitution by that point but I assume with more parties, amendments would be even harder than it is now.

 

[aitkenmike]

Well the idea wouldn't be that they could win the first cycle, but slowly gain until they can become a credible threat and start getting house seats, senate seats etc and then eventually become a threat.

It doesn't seem like the two party system works in your best interests that's all.

But to work in the medium term they have to subsume the existing party and thus return to a two party system, or never be in power again

 

[Source]

Seeing the rules are created by the 2 parties to keep those parties in power it would be extremely difficult to break their hold. It would take an extremely well funded 3rd party and grass root efforts probably starting locally or at the states level. Not sure if even that would work.

 

[Lycandroid]

You got to get rid of the hard line left vs right dynamic first before it would ever work. Just as with Germany and France the losing parties can band together and overtake the party the people voted for, negating having all these other choices to begin with.

 

[aitkenmike]

You got to get rid of the hard line left vs right dynamic first before it would ever work. Just as with Germany and France the losing parties can band together and overtake the party the people voted for, negating having all these other choices to begin with.

If you are talking about germany are you talking about the 'losing' party being the one that got the most seats and the most votes?