NationStates Jolt Archive

We're all familiar with the Democrats and the Republicans, how neither one really lives up to the labels given to them, and how neither one is all that fantastic. There's a large section of the population that is Independent or otherwise centrist, yet there is no strong third party.

First, before I continue into that, I do have a question in regards to myself. I've defined myself as a liberal, in the definition commonly accepted in the rest of the world. On social issues, I'm quite liberal indeed(gay marriage? You got it! legalized--and regulated--drugs? You got it! legalized prostitution? You got it!) I'm even quite against most forms of gun control(A user about a week ago or so posted an incredibly reasonable way to approach gun legistlation that I completely agreed with, and think should be implimented.) When it comes to the economy, I'm liberal there as well, as I favor an essentially free market, with a few reasonable restrictions to prevent it from becoming an all out free for all and creating greedy bossmen and poor workers and all that jazz. Taxes...what is necessary to pay for government spending and nothing more. Environment...I favor protecting it to a point that makes sense from scientific analysis, but I'm not going to restrict industry either. They should be made as efficient as possible, though. For the government: the same as with industry. I don't favor a large or small government: I favor an efficient government, as efficient as is possible. I also wish for any and all religion to be completely absent when it comes to the government. It has no place in it whatsoever, be it for a basis for laws or anything else.

Many would look at that and declare me to be a Libertarian, but that party, like every other freaking American political party, is too extreme, as they are essentially anarcho-capitalists, which I think is idiotic.

So...am I correct in my definition of myself, and if not, what am I?

Moving back to the main point of this thread, we do need a strong, centrist third party in the U.S. Of course, one has to approach it delicately. Every new party I've seen tends to be too extreme on one or several issues and thus loses any membership by the Independents or other undecided moderates.

What I ask is: how does one go about creating a true third party that will appeal to the Independents and other centrists(possibly even drawing those nigh middle of the road Dems and Repubs who only joined the main parties because there was nothing that fit them just right)? Obviously it's a lot harder said than done, but something needs to be done about it. (And what would we call it? It would need a decent name.)

So how would you NSers suggest we go about this?

So...am I correct in my definition of myself, and if not, what am I?

I'd put you down as a social liberal. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_libertarian)

I'd put you down as a social liberal. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_libertarian)
Righto, thanks.

So, essentially, what we're looking at then--from my perspective, anyway--is a Social Liberal party. It definitely should be created, but, again, how do we go about it?

Righto, thanks.

So, essentially, what we're looking at then--from my perspective, anyway--is a Social Liberal party. It definitely should be created, but, again, how do we go about it?

Here's an interesting link (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=369163)

Here's an interesting link (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=369163)
Thank you. That should prove quite useful. Not that I'd be able to do any of it myself at the moment, but the point to this thread was to engage everyone in discussion and perhaps inspire someone who is able to go out and do it. =/

There is a party for centrists - the Democratic Party.

There is a party for centrists - the Democratic Party.
Considering your views, I can see why you'd think they are centrists, but they are most assuredly not. If they were, we wouldn't see so many Independents and the like. Most of us Independents are actual centrists for the most part, thank you.

Considering your views, I can see why you'd think they are centrists, but they are most assuredly not. If they were, we wouldn't see so many Independents and the like. Most of us Independents are actual centrists for the most part, thank you.Considering the gamut of possible economic and social laws leads to the conclusion that the Democrats are near the center. I would suggest that most of the independents are near-right, which would put them between the centrist party and the mid-right party, the Republicans, or mid-left, for which there is no party.

Which brings me back to why I want to create a strong third party, to fill that necessary gap and otherwise give Independents a political party to belong to. Plus, I'm sick and tired of seeing only Dems and Repubs.

Considering your views, I can see why you'd think they are centrists, but they are most assuredly not. If they were, we wouldn't see so many Independents and the like. Most of us Independents are actual centrists for the most part, thank you.

The Democrats have actually drifted further and further into the center in most places (some still are radicals, but what party doesn't have some radicals?). The Republicans on the other hand have been moving away from the center as of late (See King Dubya). If you want to find yourself a competitive centrist party, the Democrats are probably the people for you. Especially considering your liberal views on social issues.
Overall, I'd have to agree with the people who call you libertarian, while you may not be as far as they are, you certainly are close. You don't really sound like much of a centrist to me, you sound more like a 18th/19th century liberal (more individual freedoms in both economic issues and social issues). You seem to compare to Thomas Jefferson really (someone often described as a libertarian). If you want a party that best shares your views, you are probably looking at the libertarian party, considering your liberal stance on social issues and your individualist stance on economics.

The Democrats have actually drifted further and further into the center in most places (some still are radicals, but what party doesn't have some radicals?). The Republicans on the other hand have been moving away from the center as of late (See King Dubya). If you want to find yourself a competitive centrist party, the Democrats are probably the people for you. Especially considering your liberal views on social issues.
Overall, I'd have to agree with the people who call you libertarian, while you may not be as far as they are, you certainly are close. You don't really sound like much of a centrist to me, you sound more like a 18th/19th century liberal (more individual freedoms in both economic issues and social issues). You seem to compare to Thomas Jefferson really (someone often described as a libertarian). If you want a party that best shares your views, you are probably looking at the libertarian party, considering your liberal stance on social issues and your individualist stance on economics.
Well, see, the problem I have with the Libertarian party is that they feel too extreme for me. They tend to feel that no government is good government and the like, which I disagree with.

Still...perhaps if I got involved with them I could potentially turn them into a strong party. All I want to see right now is a decent third party that is actually competitive in American politics, because--as I said--I'm tired of Dems and Repubs everywhere.

This is entirely the fault of first-past-the-post system used in American elections. The system was adopted as it was believed that it created a stronger link between the voter and his representitive, which it does, in the best of cases, but inevitably it degresses into extreme centralism, whereby only a small percentage of opinion in the dead centre is represented entirely and 90-odd percent of the people have to choose the lesser of two evils.

I believe that the independent nature of the US legislature would not be damaged in the same way that more PR-based systems damage parliamentary democracies, as the lack of any kind of effective whipping on Capitol Hill makes formal coalition-building redundant.

So, in conclusion, you guys should adopt some kind of PR system in one or both of your legislative bodies.

The strongest third parties are Libertarian and Green.

Personally, my favorite party in America ATM is either CPUSA or SPUSA(?)

But I do know of a centrist third party. Ross Perot ran with it, if I'm not mistaken.

I think it is called America First party. Or Constituional Party. Not sure which one.

The strongest third parties are Libertarian and Green.

Personally, my favorite party in America ATM is either CPUSA or SPUSA(?)

But I do know of a centrist third party. Ross Perot ran with it, if I'm not mistaken.


Reform?

This is entirely the fault of first-past-the-post system used in American elections. The system was adopted as it was believed that it created a stronger link between the voter and his representitive, which it does, in the best of cases, but inevitably it degresses into extreme centralism, whereby only a small percentage of opinion in the dead centre is represented entirely and 90-odd percent of the people have to choose the lesser of two evils.

I believe that the independent nature of the US legislature would not be damaged in the same way that more PR-based systems damage parliamentary democracies, as the lack of any kind of effective whipping on Capitol Hill makes formal coalition-building redundant.

So, in conclusion, you guys should adopt some kind of PR system in one or both of your legislative bodies.
Perhaps, but I think that level of change is unnecessary. If a party is strong enough--which it can become that way--then we don't need to change the system. The idea, of course, would be to start small, in one state, then move to other states, in state congresses, then to the federal congress from there.

Reform?

Yeah, that's the one.

What exactly were the policies of the Reform party?

What exactly were the policies of the Reform party?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America

"Opposition to free trade agreements"

Nope. Not my kind of party.

The Centrist Party already exists and is pretty good.