Comments on: The Case For A Third Party: Whither The Centrists? http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:29:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/comment-page-1/#comment-105304 Mark Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:50:12 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/#comment-105304 Amanda, thanks for the recommendation. Indeed, the deck is stacked pretty high against any third party (personally, I think there should be four or more - but then, I guess that would make us parliamentarians)... Amanda, thanks for the recommendation. Indeed, the deck is stacked pretty high against any third party (personally, I think there should be four or more – but then, I guess that would make us parliamentarians)…

]]> By: Amanda Drake http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/comment-page-1/#comment-105301 Amanda Drake Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:31:57 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/#comment-105301 I think this argument is important and I am actually writing a paper on it as we speak. I highly suggest a reading assigned in my PoliSci 1 course which is an interesting analysis of the polarization of the "political class". The book is <strong> Culture War? :The Myth of a Polarized America</strong> by Morris Fiorina. One of his most basic arguments, and something we've discussed in class, includes the idea that because the parties have the power in government and make the rules, they have the advantage in the game. Thus I wish the third parties luck, but I am cynical. It's hard to get ahead when the rules of the game cater to specific players. I think this argument is important and I am actually writing a paper on it as we speak. I highly suggest a reading assigned in my PoliSci 1 course which is an interesting analysis of the polarization of the “political class”.
The book is Culture War? :The Myth of a Polarized America by Morris Fiorina.

One of his most basic arguments, and something we’ve discussed in class, includes the idea that because the parties have the power in government and make the rules, they have the advantage in the game.

Thus I wish the third parties luck, but I am cynical. It’s hard to get ahead when the rules of the game cater to specific players.

]]> By: David M. Smith http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/comment-page-1/#comment-41115 David M. Smith Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:36:18 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/#comment-41115 Hi Mark, Thanks for the effort. However, I don’t think you made a very good case for a third party. Like you, most of the time I would prefer a third way to the two ways that are offered in campaigns. President Bush, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, etc. all governed as centrists. Senators from states controlled by one party are very partisan, but most Senators from most States govern as centrists. How would a third party have changed the immigration smorgasbord that passed the Senate? The House of Representatives is much more partisan, but even the House has a way of compromising at the end of the legislative process. Granted, partisans control elections, but partisans don’t control government. I am pretty far to the right, but even I can’t think of one extreme left position that has been adopted by the Federal government in my lifetime. Hillary-care never saw the light of day. I still don’t see how a third party will improve government. I do see how a third party will hurt government though if politicians can get elected with less than a majority. A third, forth, fifth, etc. party will increase, not decrease partisanship. Perhaps I just don’t understand your main point. Can you help me out? Hi Mark,

Thanks for the effort. However, I don’t think you made a very good case for a third party. Like you, most of the time I would prefer a third way to the two ways that are offered in campaigns.

President Bush, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, etc. all governed as centrists. Senators from states controlled by one party are very partisan, but most Senators from most States govern as centrists. How would a third party have changed the immigration smorgasbord that passed the Senate? The House of Representatives is much more partisan, but even the House has a way of compromising at the end of the legislative process. Granted, partisans control elections, but partisans don’t control government. I am pretty far to the right, but even I can’t think of one extreme left position that has been adopted by the Federal government in my lifetime. Hillary-care never saw the light of day.

I still don’t see how a third party will improve government. I do see how a third party will hurt government though if politicians can get elected with less than a majority. A third, forth, fifth, etc. party will increase, not decrease partisanship. Perhaps I just don’t understand your main point. Can you help me out?

]]> By: dmac http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/comment-page-1/#comment-41102 dmac Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:43:17 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/#comment-41102 I voted for John Anderson in my first Presidential election, and look what it got me - a wasted vote. I voted for John Anderson in my first Presidential election, and look what it got me – a wasted vote.

]]> By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/comment-page-1/#comment-40821 Dennis Mon, 05 Jun 2006 02:42:57 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/06/04/the-case-for-a-third-party-whither-the-centrists/#comment-40821 I'm sympathetic to the notion of a third party, as I imagine many people are. My problem is that while Unity '08 and similar movements over the years can identify big issues they think are getting short-shrift, what's their proposed solutions? How do you go about providing "health care for all"? How do you address foreign dependence on oil? How do you fight global terrorism? There are lots of serious people who have very definite ideas on this, and their proposed solutions are wildly divergent. It all reminds me of Ross Perot, who was good at identifying things that seemed to aggravate people, but never was especially specific on how he would solve them, other than some vague promises to "fix them," as if political choices were a simple matter of mechanics. The two parties as they're set up now can be deeply unsatisfying. I just don't see how one or two additional parties will do much to really address that dissatisfaction. I suppose if we had dozens of parties, it would be easier to find candidates more tailored to each of us, though that might make governing coalitions terribly unwieldy. Though as someone who prefers weaker governments as a general principle, that might not be the worst thing in the world. I’m sympathetic to the notion of a third party, as I imagine many people are. My problem is that while Unity ‘08 and similar movements over the years can identify big issues they think are getting short-shrift, what’s their proposed solutions? How do you go about providing “health care for all”? How do you address foreign dependence on oil? How do you fight global terrorism? There are lots of serious people who have very definite ideas on this, and their proposed solutions are wildly divergent.

It all reminds me of Ross Perot, who was good at identifying things that seemed to aggravate people, but never was especially specific on how he would solve them, other than some vague promises to “fix them,” as if political choices were a simple matter of mechanics.

The two parties as they’re set up now can be deeply unsatisfying. I just don’t see how one or two additional parties will do much to really address that dissatisfaction. I suppose if we had dozens of parties, it would be easier to find candidates more tailored to each of us, though that might make governing coalitions terribly unwieldy. Though as someone who prefers weaker governments as a general principle, that might not be the worst thing in the world.

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