Why can't third parties in America take off ? | Is joining a third party worth it?

[Husseinisdoingfine]

So in almost every other advanced and developed democracy, they electoral system is such that the voters have an option of at least three political parties. 

The Israeli Knesset has 12 political parties, the Canadian Parliament has 4, the German Bundestag has 6, and the French Parliament has 20. This gives voters who house a wide variety of political thought a perspectives, a vast menu of different options to choose one so that they may vote for a party for whom they feel best represents them. This also gives them the option to vote for more niche parties when they feel that the status quo establishment parties are beginning to fail them.

Are you economically on the left, but don't subscribe to more socially liberal values (BLM, LGBT, etc...) Great! There's a party for you. Or maybe you're the opposite and support socially liberal causes but want a more free market and less social services, great! Are you super left wing and oppose the existence of capitalism? Great! There's a party for you. Are you violently against migration and immigration? There's a party for you.

You see how much more freedom this gives the voter? Not only that, but newer parties have a better chance of getting off the ground in European democracies. The German AfD used to be a niche fringe party, and now its the second most popular in Germany.

But in America, there's only two options, and that's that. There technically are more than two parties, but people refuse to vote for them. And when they do get more popular, they only serve to thwart one of the established parties, and elect the one the voter least agrees with. Think about Ralph Nader in 2000 and how much that helped elect George Bush. 

But why do Americans stand for such a system? Is it because Americans are too comfortable with the established parties, or what? 

I really support the Green Party of the United States, and want to help them organize to help their candidate with the governorship of my home state, Maryland. But Wes Moore is too popular, even though not many people know too much about him. I feel as if people voted fore Moore because they've always voted Democratic here, that's just what they're used to as a default position, and don't bother to research the candidates.

[Husseinisdoingfine]

This problem could hypothetically be fixed with a ranked choice voting system. But in 2024, (almost) every single ballot measure to establish ranked choice voting lost.

https://fairvote.org/ballot-measures/?section=_2024-ballot-measures

Why!?!?! Why are we doing this to ourselves?

 

 

Edited October 1 by Husseinisdoingfine

[Hojo]

Well when it happens it will probably elon musk party and he will ruin America.

[enchanted]

Forget third party, the USA is descending into a one party country. Trump is going from Zero to Hungary real quick. 

Edited October 2 by enchanted

[Husseinisdoingfine]

There are very few examples of third parties doing well in America, but they exist. A good example of this is the Vermont Progressive Party.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Progressive_Party

[Apparition of Jack]

Once Trump is gone and the evil spell MAGA has over America is gone, changing the electoral system is going to be one of our first priorities (alongside ending Citizen’s United, passing universal healthcare, etc.)

[Elliott]

The American parties are fluid, we vote for unique candidates other countries vote for parties. Support a third party, it still moves the political needle, but you can build a third party here just no one does.

Edited October 2 by Elliott

[Schizophonia]

There is only one round, so almost everyone votes for the two parties for the sake of a useful vote.

Edited October 2 by Schizophonia

[Elliott]

1 minute ago, Schizophonia said:

There is only one round, so almost everyone votes for the two parties for the sake of a useful vote.

That doesn't track when you look at solid districts, why don't socialists run in solid left districts, they're fuking lazy.

[Schizophonia]

2 minutes ago, Elliott said:

That doesn't track when you look at solid districts, why don't socialists run in solid left districts, they're fuking lazy.

What do you mean

[Lyubov]

It’s by design. single member district plurality. Look this up. 

[Elliott]

9 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

What do you mean

We have states, cities, and seats in congress that are essentially uncontested and owned by one side of the aisle, 3rd parties could run there and the socialist voters not worry about throwing their vote away, either the Democrat or socialist will still win. In the u.s. we vote for each individual candidate and seat, we don't just select a party for all the seats.

Edited October 2 by Elliott

[Husseinisdoingfine]

28 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

There is only one round, so almost everyone votes for the two parties for the sake of a useful vote.

See the post right below the OP, we had the opportunity to implement a voting system with numerous rounds, but voted against it in a referendum.

Why?

[Husseinisdoingfine]

Just now, Husseinisdoingfine said:

See the post right below the OP, we had the opportunity to implement a voting system with numerous rounds, but voted against it in a referendum.

Why?

 

21 hours ago, Husseinisdoingfine said:

This problem could hypothetically be fixed with a ranked choice voting system. But in 2024, (almost) every single ballot measure to establish ranked choice voting lost.

https://fairvote.org/ballot-measures/?section=_2024-ballot-measures

Why!?!?! Why are we doing this to ourselves?

 

 

 

[Schizophonia]

3 hours ago, Elliott said:

We have states, cities, and seats in congress that are essentially uncontested and owned by one side of the aisle, 3rd parties could run there and the socialist voters not worry about throwing their vote away, either the Democrat or socialist will still win. In the u.s. we vote for each individual candidate and seat, we don't just select a party for all the seats.

Because people are used to voting for the Democrat and/or because he is already associated with socialists.

3 hours ago, Husseinisdoingfine said:

See the post right below the OP, we had the opportunity to implement a voting system with numerous rounds, but voted against it in a referendum.

Why?

Idk

[Elliott]

2 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

Because people are used to voting for the Democrat and/or because he is already associated with socialists.

 

The socialists in the u.s. openly hate the Democrats, democrats don't support socialism.

Edited October 2 by Elliott

[Schizophonia]

5 minutes ago, Elliott said:

The socialists in the u.s. openly hate the Democrats,

You also have to find candidates, which is not easy since the alternatives to the Democrats are clearly marginal.

5 minutes ago, Elliott said:

democrats don't support socialism.

That's why they are loosers. 

 

[Elliott]

1 hour ago, Schizophonia said:

You also have to find candidates, which is not easy since the alternatives to the Democrats are clearly marginal.

Right, socialists and third parties barely run in small races, only big showy races. They barely do any work other than disparage democrats    \/

Quote

That's why they are loosers

 

 

To build a party, you have to start building, not just plan your executive suite.

Edited October 2 by Elliott