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Beyond Tuesday is an independent look at the American political landscape in the months and years between elections. Presented by Strategic Guidance Systems.
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2 comments:
Conceptually, I like the idea of a third party. But practically speaking, I'm not sure how one would make itself viable in the polar atmosphere of American politics. Take the issue of capital punishment--if I vote Republican, I can guess that my candidate will be in favor of it; if I vote Democrat, my candidate will probably be opposed. The simplicity of these two extremes is what cements the two-party tradition--an average American, whose candidate research is limited to Fox news and the front page at Starbucks, can vote by means of party affiliation rather than by means of research and civic involvement...and comfortably assume that the candidate they choose will largely represent their beliefs. Where would a third party differentiate itself? Is the only position left ambivalence? I can't think of a worse campaign tactic!
I think a third, fourth, or tenth party wouldn't be a bad idea. But it'll never happen. I'm a cynic at heart & doubt that anything will change -- human nature is laziness & reluctance to change. Multiple parties with multiple nuanced identities would require more intellectual exercise & effort on the part of the joe-average voter to determine which he'd like to identify with, but I think America is too lazy to do that. I wish we could broaden our view a little. Multiple parties would require we learn to compromise, dialogue, and cooperate. I think we, as a nation, like to be polarized; we enjoy arguing and making a scene; Jerry Springer, Nanny 911, Wife Swap, Survivor -- they're all predicated on tension, and have been long-time favorites. Maybe it seems simplistic, but TV/movies are the ultimate expression of American culture, so I'll make that parallel. We're stuck on being at-odds. So long as stuff like that is vastly popular, tension will be a way of life in our nation, whether around your office watercooler, or on Capitol Hill.
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