Open Left

One long term option for third parties

Would be to push for proportional representation at the state level, for as many states as possible. Not the national level. Let local issues drive people to form different parties and run their state government. Some of those politicians will rise to the top to become governors and members of the US Congress. In theory, you could then form a viable third party around that candidate at a national level. It's also possible these local parties could have affiliates in other states, without becoming a national party. This scenario would take decades to complete most likely.

Other than this scenario, it seems that the only way for new political parties to form is for one of the two parties to fail completely and morph into a new party. The history of national US third parties, since the 1970s at least, has been a complete failure.

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by: TSlavin @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:37:55 AM CDT