sc94597 said:
Where did you get the idea that the Republicans would be the only ones voted in office? These other parties throughout history that I mentioned were successful in regions where they became the first party and either the Democrats and Republicans merged as the second party, or one of them became a distant third with this new party being one of the two major parties in that region. Duverger's law breaks down when support for a party is concentrated regionally. It is why the Scottish National Party is so successful in Britain despite it being in a FPTP system, for example. Or how the NDP vs. Conservatives are the major parties in much of Western Canada, despite it having a FPTP system. I just gave half a dozen examples of how third parties have successfully affected the U.S political scene leftward in the past. This was with the same FPTP system that we have today, and with arguably stronger major parties in power. Of course this can't happen in a vacuum, a new labor movement needs to arise too -- for example, but it does need to happen nevertheless. |
Do you have any examples from this century? You know, that century with a completely dismantled democracy, low voter turnout and internet propaganda that is radicalizing voters while keeping as many voters as possible away from the polls?
The first thing that has to happen before people actually vote for a 3rd party is to gain the ability to actually vote. You need reforms first for that. It's a vicious cycle and the only way to break it is by either a coup or at least 3 terms in full democratic control.
If you demand respect or gratitude for your volunteer work, you're doing volunteering wrong.