America has run on a two-party system for far too long. The parties no longer represent the interests of the country but rather the goals of special interests. These are five reasons I believe it may be time for a third party in America.
1. There are now more independents than ever.
According to a 2015 Gallup poll, voter registration of independents rose to a record high of 43 percent. More and more people are becoming dissatisfied with the Republican and Democratic Parties. Just take a look at the current candidates and you’ll start to understand why. The current frontrunners are a racist egomaniac and a proven liar.
2. Fewer people are identifying as conservative and liberal.
The 2015 Gallup Governance Survey found that libertarian is actually the largest political identity in the United States now at 27 percent. Libertarian is followed by conservative at 26 percent, liberal at 23 percent, and populist at 15 percent. More and more people are favoring less government regulation of business and more protection for civil liberties, which is the libertarian model.
3. A third party could be joining the stage at the general debate.
A lawsuit filed in September 2015 could change everything. Debates are the best way for a candidate to prove their legitimacy and get their name out there to the voters, and if this case is successful many people could be joining the stage. The current criteria for being on the general debate stage is polling at 15 percent or higher. The rules do not set any standards for polling so it is easy to cherry-pick polling locations and demographics to prevent people other than the Democratic and Republican candidates from polling high enough to participate. If the case is won, the Libertarian and Green Party candidates could be on the stage later this year.
4. The Libertarian candidate will be on every ballot.
For the first time ever, the Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson will be on the ballot in all 50 states. One of the assertions of the lawsuit above is that if a party is on all the ballots, they should be included in the debates. Voters will have another option this year other than just the standard red and blue.
5. The internet is spreading ideas and information.
The internet is a wonderful resource for information. Now voters can easily be made aware of everyone who is running rather than just relying on who was able to spend the most on advertising. Voters can now see who all the candidates are and what they believe with the click of a button. Now, it’s not just the loudest candidates who are getting attention. With the current candidates that the usual parties have on the floor right now, a third party might be just what this country’s voters need. I urge you to get online and do some research into third parties and their candidates.
