What would a viable third party look like?

Spexxvet · 10-06-2006, 01:40 PM

Moderates, or "swing-voters" need their own party. What would the party planks look like for such a party? What would the position be for issues like:

Foreign Policy
Individual freedoms
Taxation
Abortion
Same-gender marriage
Welfare
States' right vs federal rights

And others?

glatt · 10-06-2006, 01:43 PM

This should be interesting.

I think swing voters are even more diverse than liberals, and I bet they would have a hard time coming up with a platform.

I'll throw a couple out though. Fiscal responsibility. Smaller government. Civil rights. Separation of church and state.

Griff · 10-06-2006, 02:13 PM

Foreign Policy- isolationist

Individual freedoms-keep your hands off my

Taxation- low but balance the budget

Abortion- none of my business

Samesex marriage-groovy/in the eyes of the government its just a contract

Welfare- none for corporations, regular folks safety net but if you screw the pooch you are gonna get cut loose.

States' right vs federal rights- move the power down toward the peeps. No unfunded mandates.

A viable third party would take control locally first, county governments on down, to prove they can do the job.

Happy Monkey · 10-06-2006, 02:44 PM

No platform. Just an organization to help fund independent candidates. I don't know how this would work, if at all, but it would be interesting.

Flint · 10-06-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

No platform. Just an organization to help fund independent candidates.

Now that is one hell of a good idea. Remove the "party" aspect altogether.

Radar · 10-07-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Moderates, or "swing-voters" need their own party. What would the party planks look like for such a party? What would the position be for issues like:

Foreign Policy
Individual freedoms
Taxation
Abortion
Same-gender marriage
Welfare
States' right vs federal rights

And others?

A viable third-party would look like the viable third-party we already have in the Libertarian Party.

Ibby · 10-07-2006, 08:43 PM

They said viable.

MaggieL · 10-07-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

A viable third-party would look like the viable third-party we already have in the Libertarian Party.

But bigger, and not as goofy-looking.

Radar · 10-09-2006, 05:49 PM

The Libertarian Party IS viable and extremely electable with the best candidates in politics. It's the largest third party in America. It has more people elected than all other third-parties combined.

10-09-2006, 06:34 PM

Foreign Policy - Keep our paws off of other nations' affairs except in the case of an actual declaration of war by an actual nation.

Individual freedoms - Bring them back

Taxation - Quit squandering money on boondoggles, stupid foreign wars and awarding govt contracts to companies with insider connections with the Feds. That should allow us to balance the budget for once.

Abortion - A matter of individual conscience

Same-gender marriage - Should be the same as opposite gender marriage

Welfare - No more welfare for corporations. Make it available for those in need of help, but also provide training and education that will allow people to become self supporting again.

States' right vs federal rights - States' rights should supersede federal rights with each state upholding the Constitution. I would like to see the country move a little closer to being a federation of states with less power concentrated in Washington. The Federal government has become too corrupt (I know even local governments can be corrupt, but its a lot easier to weed out corruption on a state or local level than it is a national one).

MaggieL · 10-09-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

The Libertarian Party IS viable and extremely electable...

And yet so few of them are elected.

tw · 10-09-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

The Libertarian Party IS viable and extremely electable with the best candidates in politics. It's the largest third party in America. It has more people elected than all other third-parties combined.

Third party is in a system designed by two big parties so that only those parties are favored. Even gerrymandering has even made a third party implausible.

To better appreciate how a third party can occur, compare details of the British political system verses American. For example, British system does not permit unrestricted spending. Therefore contributions to a third party - that at first glance would appear to be a loser - could actually get a winning message out.

Two parties have conspired to fix the system in their favor. Therefore when Ross Perot won so many votes, it scared the hell out of party power brokers who did not understand this concept: 'working for America'.

The American political system is chock full of details that make it so difficult for third parties.

richlevy · 10-28-2006, 09:11 PM

Not really, but I did do a doubletake when I saw this billboard with "Independent Fighter for US". It seems Mr. Weldon is joining the RINO party (Republican in Name Only). Maybe he and the rest of the moderates in Congress should replace the elephant with an actual Rhino as a mascot.

Let's not forget about the jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

Of course, there's always the chance he could follow Jim Jeffords and actually become an independent.

Spexxvet · 11-01-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

Not really, but I did do a doubletake when I saw this billboard with "Independent Fighter for US". It seems Mr. Weldon is joining the RINO party (Republican in Name Only). Maybe he and the rest of the moderates in Congress should replace the elephant with an actual Rhino as a mascot.

Let's not forget about the jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

Of course, there's always the chance he could follow Jim Jeffords and actually become an independent.

repubicans are funny, and not in the ha ha way. Their party position is less government spending and lower taxes, but when they want to get re-elected, they crow about how much money they bring to their constituency. I guess people who vote repubican don't wonder where that money comes from.

Happy Monkey · 11-01-2006, 05:01 PM

They know where it comes from - blue states.

10-06-2006, 01:40 PM	#1
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	What would a viable third party look like? Moderates, or "swing-voters" need their own party. What would the party planks look like for such a party? What would the position be for issues like: Foreign Policy Individual freedoms Taxation Abortion Same-gender marriage Welfare States' right vs federal rights And others? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

10-06-2006, 02:13 PM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Foreign Policy- isolationist Individual freedoms-keep your hands off my Taxation- low but balance the budget Abortion- none of my business Samesex marriage-groovy/in the eyes of the government its just a contract Welfare- none for corporations, regular folks safety net but if you screw the pooch you are gonna get cut loose. States' right vs federal rights- move the power down toward the peeps. No unfunded mandates. A viable third party would take control locally first, county governments on down, to prove they can do the job. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-06-2006, 02:44 PM	#4
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	No platform. Just an organization to help fund independent candidates. I don't know how this would work, if at all, but it would be interesting. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

10-07-2006, 08:43 PM	#7
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	They said viable. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

10-09-2006, 05:49 PM	#9
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	The Libertarian Party IS viable and extremely electable with the best candidates in politics. It's the largest third party in America. It has more people elected than all other third-parties combined. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

10-06-2006, 01:43 PM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	This should be interesting. I think swing voters are even more diverse than liberals, and I bet they would have a hard time coming up with a platform. I'll throw a couple out though. Fiscal responsibility. Smaller government. Civil rights. Separation of church and state.

10-09-2006, 06:34 PM	#10
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Foreign Policy - Keep our paws off of other nations' affairs except in the case of an actual declaration of war by an actual nation. Individual freedoms - Bring them back Taxation - Quit squandering money on boondoggles, stupid foreign wars and awarding govt contracts to companies with insider connections with the Feds. That should allow us to balance the budget for once. Abortion - A matter of individual conscience Same-gender marriage - Should be the same as opposite gender marriage Welfare - No more welfare for corporations. Make it available for those in need of help, but also provide training and education that will allow people to become self supporting again. States' right vs federal rights - States' rights should supersede federal rights with each state upholding the Constitution. I would like to see the country move a little closer to being a federation of states with less power concentrated in Washington. The Federal government has become too corrupt (I know even local governments can be corrupt, but its a lot easier to weed out corruption on a state or local level than it is a national one).

10-28-2006, 09:11 PM	#13
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Weldon 'sort of' declares himself an independent Not really, but I did do a doubletake when I saw this billboard with "Independent Fighter for US". It seems Mr. Weldon is joining the RINO party (Republican in Name Only). Maybe he and the rest of the moderates in Congress should replace the elephant with an actual Rhino as a mascot. Let's not forget about the jobs, jobs, and more jobs. Of course, there's always the chance he could follow Jim Jeffords and actually become an independent. Attached Images __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

11-01-2006, 05:01 PM	#15
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They know where it comes from - blue states. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

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