Which third party do you think is best in the U.S. and why?

[0TheSwerve0]

I'm curious which third party (in the U.S.) you think is best. If you find them all too horrible to entertain the idea of voting for one, just say so because I'm not offering that option. Feel free to offer any others (U.S. or otherwise). Reasons why?

Here's some links on the third parties, I'm just becoming acquainted with them so I can't say much about them:
"[URL
Constitution[/URL]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_%28United_States%29"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_%28United_States%29"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_USA"

 

[scott1]

Non of the above.
EDIT:Bad joke

 

[0TheSwerve0]

 

[scott1]

No it's non of the above is the joke it was what I had posted before (it was a bad joke)
Hey where's the option tohttp://www.gunsanddope.com/"

 

[Gokul43201]

Give me libertarians or give me dems ...at least for the time being.

I picked #3.

 

[0TheSwerve0]

No it's non of the above is the joke it was what I had posted before (it was a bad joke)
Hey where's the option tohttp://www.gunsanddope.com/"

Ah, I was beginning to think I wouldn't get responses at all. Just waiting for Pengwuino to hone in on this thread and shred it

 

[Skyhunter]

I like the Libertarian philosophy of smaller, less intrusive and burdensome government. However I voted Green, since I believe the human destruction of our environment is the greatest threat facing the world today.

 

[Rach3]

The only choices I see here are parties dominated by extreme radical views (of either wing), politicians so distanced from the mainstream that they couldn't affiliate themselves with either major party. The "Constitutional party" is extreme nationalist. The "Green party" is the outlet of the kind of ideology-based 'environmentalism' that opposes nuclear power.

This isn't surprising; in the current poltiical framework it's quite impossible to create a competitive third party, so the only ones who even try are the ones already marginalized and disaffected - rabid ideologists.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Sorry but I think all of these are somewhere between hobbies and crank organizations.

 

[BobG]

The Libertarian platform sounds the best out of the options listed. Unfortunately, attracting any qualified candidates seems to be a problem for them. They try to boost their credibility by having candidates in as many local elections as possible, but the result is a reputation for being a crackpot party.

A little more discipline and a little more acceptance of slower growth and they might actually have a future.

 

[0TheSwerve0]

I got to go with the Socialists for now. The Greens are ok, but I don't think it's goals are realistic or as pressing right now (in America). I agree with Libertarian platform on civil liberties, but not if it's going to favor business rights over individual rights. I think free market economy is unstable and harmful (regular recessions). It's only with some tweaking that we avoid another Great Depression. I think Socialists find a better balance:promoting civil liberties and rights, but also giving aid and avoiding the extreme ups and downs of free market economies.

 

[scott1]

Sorry but I think all of these are somewhere between hobbies and crank organizations.

They are, just look at the greens and the Socialist Party USA.
Most of thrid parties are really just people who don't really know about poltics and just think that there way is better or that there's a big problem that not a problem.

 

[Gokul43201]

I agree with Libertarian platform on civil liberties, but not if it's going to favor business rights over individual rights.

1. Why do you believe it does?
2. Does there have to be a conflict between the two (and just for clarity, will you tell me how you define "business rights")?

 

[Smurf]

I've recently become disillusioned with the Canadian Green Party, so I assumed the US Green party is just as bad. I briefly considered the Constitution and Socialist parties, but ended up voting reform because they sound kind of like the Democratic Reform party of Canada. God, why do all political parties have such boring and over-used names? I WANT THE GUNS AND DOPE PARTY!

 

[selfAdjoint]

I WANT THE GUNS AND DOPE PARTY!

That wouold be the Libertarians.

 

[0TheSwerve0]

The only choices I see here are parties dominated by extreme radical views (of either wing), politicians so distanced from the mainstream that they couldn't affiliate themselves with either major party. The "Constitutional party" is extreme nationalist. The "Green party" is the outlet of the kind of ideology-based 'environmentalism' that opposes nuclear power.

This isn't surprising; in the current poltiical framework it's quite impossible to create a competitive third party, so the only ones who even try are the ones already marginalized and disaffected - rabid ideologists.

I agree with the latter, but I don't know enough about the third parties to say for sure that they're just a bunch of wackos. Are there any third parties that you would consider voting for? (Understandable if not)

 

[0TheSwerve0]

1. Why do you believe it does?
2. Does there have to be a conflict between the two (and just for clarity, will you tell me how you define "business rights")?

1. I don't know that it does, but it seems Classical Liberalism had that outcome. I think there is a good chance Libertarian liberliasm could lead to the same thing (mainly because of the way our culture uses it).

2. No, there doesn't have to be conflict between the two. Again, I think our cultural values shape it to that purpose. Maybe this is changing, but it doesn't look that way to me.

By business rights, I'm referring to the way indvidual rights (to carry on any trade you want, pretty much offer whatever wages and benefits you want, etc) end up working for the good of businesses/C.E.O.'s rather than workers.

It's not the Libertarian party I disagree with, but the society and culture that I see as problematic. Am I being too pessimistic?

 

[Smurf]

That wouold be the Libertarians.

actually i was referring to this:

Hey where's the option tohttp://www.gunsanddope.com/"

i don't know much 'bout the libertarians, but from what I understand they evolved from Classical Liberalism, and classical liberalism annoys me.

 

[Pengwuino]

Wheres the American independent Party or the Peace and Freedom Party choice? What other nonsense parties did i see at our primary..

 

[selfAdjoint]

i don't know much 'bout the libertarians, but from what I understand they evolved from Classical Liberalism, and classical liberalism annoys me.

Not hardly. Most of them are considered right wing by the GOP; they believe fondly in the Austrian school of economics (Hayek et al.)

Yes there are some left libertarians, but they are even more marginalized than the righties.

(Ick! it occurs to me you may have meant "liberal" in the Canadian sense, as in Lester Pearson. If so, I apologize for the above.)

 

[loseyourname]

He means classical liberalism in the John Stuart Mill sense, who was, after all, the author of Libertarianism. Extremely limited government, or even no government at all.

So what about the Natural Law party? Let's all meditate for world peace.

 

[rcgldr]

The strongest 3rd party is the entertainment industry. This has led to a professional wrestler becoming govenor, actors become govenors (Arnold and Ronald) and later presidents (Ronald).

 

[MadScientist 1000]

I feel socialism is better.

 

[turbo]

In Maine, the Independent movement is strong. Although there is no independent party per se, we have elected two different independent governors in recent history - James Longley and Angus King.

 

[SOS2008]

It seems the only viable third party is the general label of "Independent," which usually means moderate.

The Libertarian party currently is a faction within the Republican party. I also like the idea of small government especially in terms of "Big Brother" but not to the point of unregulated chaos of a free market, which I don't believe can work. People think the market corrects itself and all that garbage, but no it doesn't. The very human nature that makes communism fail is the same trait that makes a free market fail--greed (then power and corruption).

The Green Party has had Nader as a candidate, and it seems to be the extreme opposite to the religious right in social issues rather than focused on the environment or similar "just causes."

I might be interested in the Socialist party, but it's been so demonized it doesn't stand a chance in the U.S. So I remain a registered Independent.

 

[selfAdjoint]

"Independent", where it is successful, is usually the self-description of a well known politician who has jumped his party; because he knows he can get elected on his name and he disagrees with the party elite.

 

[Smurf]

Not hardly. Most of them are considered right wing by the GOP; they believe fondly in the Austrian school of economics (Hayek et al.)

Thats pretty much exactly what I meant. So yeah, the libertarians annoy me.

 

[wasteofo2]

Libertarians.

Anyone who wants to just leave me the hell alone sounds good.

 

[Plastic Photon]

The Libertarian Party has no money, like all other third parties. They also need to stop spending what little money they have on presidential campaigns. There is no chance for the LP to receive more than 2% of the vote without an elected official in the house or senate. The best they can hope for are closet libertarians, like the so called Ron Paul (House-(R)), for the time being until they clean up their act.