Are we ready for a 3rd party to take over?

[Anonymous]

I know I am. I have been a R, I and now D, but if there was a stronger Independent party made up of moderate R and D, I'd join it. Maybe call it something else. We desperately need more moderates who are willing to work with other political parties.

Recently, there have been a spate of Rs who have decided to not run for re-election in Congress, and now Kasich seems like he is more willing to jump the R ship as that party is on the wrong path (which, as a former R, I agree that it is).

Do you think this new moderate party could have a chance? The only really big problem I see is the lack of funding. The conservative leaning SCOTUS did a disservice to this country when it struck down campaign contribution limits, which liberals tried to limit. If Trump really wanted to remove big money influence in politics, this is what he should be focusing on - campaign finance reform.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-kasich-hints-may-leave-172533617.html

[Anonymous]

It has happened before. I think that is what we are headed towards. Of course, that party will eventually merge with one of the 2 major parties because our system doesn't work well as with multiple parties.

[Anonymous]

I would join.

[Anonymous]

What we really need is to get the money out of politics. Then a lot of this other bullshit will start to sort itself out.

[Anonymous]

Third party in 2020 gives Trump a second term, but I agree with the sentiment. We need a good centrist party.

[Anonymous]

Aren't there really four parties already? You got mainstream HRC dems, Bernie bros, Trump lunatics and mainstream republicans. You also have tea party nutters and libertarians. I say blow the whole fucking system up and adopt a european coalition type government. Not that it's worked particularly well for them but at least it would give sane people some choices.

[Anonymous]

Of course we would be better off with a moderate party. However, unless we get serious about campaign finance laws and reform, it will never happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course we would be better off with a moderate party. However, unless we get serious about campaign finance laws and reform, it will never happen.

OP here... that was exactly my point. But it's the R party that don't want serious campaign finance reform. And with them in power right now, that's not going to happen. It's a tragedy for this country how the rich seem to be the ones able to decide who runs for which party. Why don't more people realize this and demand action?

Isn't there a pool of money that presidential nominees get split evenly? I'd be ok with paying a few extra dollar more in taxes to get big donors out of campaign financing. I think this has really hurt this country.

[Anonymous]

I'd love a third party. It would split the republicans in two and guarantee Democrat victory from here to the end of time.

[Anonymous]

The Democrats are basically moderate.

The GOP could just clean house, reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, pass campaign finance reform, and end their gerrymandering.

[Anonymous]

I hope so! I would love a more moderate 3rd party. Both the Republicans and Democrats have totally gone off the rails, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Democrats are basically moderate.

The GOP could just clean house, reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, pass campaign finance reform, and end their gerrymandering.

Umm, no, not quite, no way.

I've always voted Democratic, but am a Marylander who voted for Hogan because I felt he was more moderate than Anthony Brown. Will probably be voting for him again, unless the Democrats come up with someone better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What we really need is to get the money out of politics. Then a lot of this other bullshit will start to sort itself out.

+ one million. It is the actual problem. One barrier is the name "campaign finance reform". That causes the average citizen to zone out with boredom, disinterest and misinformation. Need a better name, like "take back our representation", or "get the money out of politics", or "reps need to rep the American people, not corporations".

Getting the money out of politics would make our elections issues based, and would address issues as disparate as:
-health care (profiting off sick people and protecting the mechanism to do so)
-environment (not paying the hidden costs of pollution, not proving chemicals are safe before they enter the food and drug supply)
-war (uh, maybe not enter into random wars that kill and maim thousands of military and civilians and destroy and stress out military families and DIRECTLY cause the childhood trauma and stress that produce poor health and mental health outcomes, including aggression and crime - just to make money
-cable and cell phones - total monopoly, collusion and scam but protected bc of paid off politicians
-education (pay for it maybe? to ensure an educated and healthier population)

[Anonymous]

If money really controlled elections, Clinton would be president. She had way more money than the winner.

Same in the recent special elections

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What we really need is to get the money out of politics. Then a lot of this other bullshit will start to sort itself out.

+ one million. It is the actual problem. One barrier is the name "campaign finance reform". That causes the average citizen to zone out with boredom, disinterest and misinformation. Need a better name, like "take back our representation", or "get the money out of politics", or "reps need to rep the American people, not corporations".

Getting the money out of politics would make our elections issues based, and would address issues as disparate as:
-health care (profiting off sick people and protecting the mechanism to do so)
-environment (not paying the hidden costs of pollution, not proving chemicals are safe before they enter the food and drug supply)
-war (uh, maybe not enter into random wars that kill and maim thousands of military and civilians and destroy and stress out military families and DIRECTLY cause the childhood trauma and stress that produce poor health and mental health outcomes, including aggression and crime - just to make money
-cable and cell phones - total monopoly, collusion and scam but protected bc of paid off politicians
-education (pay for it maybe? to ensure an educated and healthier population)

+1. It's chilling to see these things listed and think of how thoroughly government is failing it's citizens in addressing them... and I'm not blaming one party, both sides are pretty bad