Robert A. Levine 1-24-12
Though the Republican primaries and the presidential race now dominate the news, the disgust over governmental dysfunction and disdain for the two current parties remains. Polls have shown
approval of the Republicans and Democrats at their lowest levels ever, along with ratings for Congress in the single digits. There is also a lack of enthusiasm for the presidential candidates of both parties. Americans may be ready for another political option- a centrist third party.
In fact, a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that two thirds of respondents would consider voting for a third party candidate with whom they agreed on most issues. And about half said they thought there was a need for a third party. Various surveys have shown that 35 to 43% of Americans are self-labeled as moderates, an indication of fertile soil for planting a centrist third party. (A Gallop Poll that came out on January 9 had 40% of Americans identifying themselves as independents.) Moderate Republicans, centrist Democrats and independents at present have no appropriate political home. Many of them do not participate in elections, as the candidates running for offices do not represent their beliefs. A recent article in USA Today reported that more than 2.5 million voters have exited the Republican and Democratic parties since the 2008 election, with the number of independent voters growing.
Given all the discontented citizens who might support a centrist third party, how could it be created? To differentiate itself from the current parties, a commitment to integrity, transparency and pragmatism would be required, with a willingness to compromise and find common sense
solutions to America’s problems.
There are already a number of organizations and nascent parties with a moderate or centrist orientation, though their objectives vary. Some are national in scope while others are limited to individual states. These include Americans Elect, No Labels, the Reform Party and state Moderate Parties among other groups.
Americans Elect believes that a non-partisan presidential ticket will change the political dynamic in the country and is presently attempting to get on the ballot in every state. They intend to have an online convention for Americans to directly nominate the candidates. All voters, Democrats, Republicans and independents will be able to participate in the selection. However, this process does not address the problem of a gridlocked Congress that will have even less incentive to deal with a president who does not have the support of a political party.
No Labels aims to reform Congress by changing its rules and the behavior of its members. Its prescription for reform is reasonable, but many of the ideas have been considered for years without any action. Among No Labels recommendations are- No Budget, No Pay for Congress; Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments; Fix the Filibuster; A Monthly Question Time for the President; No Pledge but the Pledge of Office; Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings and Bipartisan Seating. While No Labels’ objectives are laudable, the partisanship in Congress and demonizing of opponents are not going to suddenly go away to permit these proposals to take hold.
The Reform Party still has a national footprint, albeit considerably weakened since its hay day in the 90s. The organization of the party varies by state. It is pro-reform with many centrist ideas. Among its objectives are removing special interest money from politics and making government more efficient, but it also has populist goals, particularly in regard to free trade agreements and the WTO.
The above three groups along with several moderate state parties could form the core of a national centrist third party that would have instant credibility and exposure. Though their visions of how to address the problem of gridlocked government are somewhat divergent, they all agree that change is necessary and want pragmatic solutions. However, these organizations and their founding members would have to be willing to suppress their ambitions and egos in order to coalesce into a centrist party. Though Americans Elect and No Labels emphasize that they are not political parties, true effectiveness and the ability to reform the nation’s politics will only come if they join with the Reform Party and compatible state entities into a single, strong party. The question remains whether these disparate groups are capable of compromising and unifying. Another question is how quickly they would be able to challenge the current parties if they did unite. Each of these groups has already set an agenda for the fast-approaching 2012 elections. Thus it might be more reasonable for this new centrist third party to set its sights on the 2014 and 2016 contests.
Hopefully in the near future, the organizations of the moderate middle will be able to overcome their differences, develop a unified vision and present Americans with a real alternative to the current political duopoly. It is a logical path to a centrist third party.
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
Though the Republican primaries and the presidential race now dominate the news, the disgust over governmental dysfunction and disdain for the two current parties remains. Polls have shown
In fact, a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that two thirds of respondents would consider voting for a third party candidate with whom they agreed on most issues. And about half said they thought there was a need for a third party. Various surveys have shown that 35 to 43% of Americans are self-labeled as moderates, an indication of fertile soil for planting a centrist third party. (A Gallop Poll that came out on January 9 had 40% of Americans identifying themselves as independents.) Moderate Republicans, centrist Democrats and independents at present have no appropriate political home. Many of them do not participate in elections, as the candidates running for offices do not represent their beliefs. A recent article in USA Today reported that more than 2.5 million voters have exited the Republican and Democratic parties since the 2008 election, with the number of independent voters growing.
Given all the discontented citizens who might support a centrist third party, how could it be created? To differentiate itself from the current parties, a commitment to integrity, transparency and pragmatism would be required, with a willingness to compromise and find common sense
There are already a number of organizations and nascent parties with a moderate or centrist orientation, though their objectives vary. Some are national in scope while others are limited to individual states. These include Americans Elect, No Labels, the Reform Party and state Moderate Parties among other groups.
Americans Elect believes that a non-partisan presidential ticket will change the political dynamic in the country and is presently attempting to get on the ballot in every state. They intend to have an online convention for Americans to directly nominate the candidates. All voters, Democrats, Republicans and independents will be able to participate in the selection. However, this process does not address the problem of a gridlocked Congress that will have even less incentive to deal with a president who does not have the support of a political party.
No Labels aims to reform Congress by changing its rules and the behavior of its members. Its prescription for reform is reasonable, but many of the ideas have been considered for years without any action. Among No Labels recommendations are- No Budget, No Pay for Congress; Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments; Fix the Filibuster; A Monthly Question Time for the President; No Pledge but the Pledge of Office; Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings and Bipartisan Seating. While No Labels’ objectives are laudable, the partisanship in Congress and demonizing of opponents are not going to suddenly go away to permit these proposals to take hold.
The Reform Party still has a national footprint, albeit considerably weakened since its hay day in the 90s. The organization of the party varies by state. It is pro-reform with many centrist ideas. Among its objectives are removing special interest money from politics and making government more efficient, but it also has populist goals, particularly in regard to free trade agreements and the WTO.
The above three groups along with several moderate state parties could form the core of a national centrist third party that would have instant credibility and exposure. Though their visions of how to address the problem of gridlocked government are somewhat divergent, they all agree that change is necessary and want pragmatic solutions. However, these organizations and their founding members would have to be willing to suppress their ambitions and egos in order to coalesce into a centrist party. Though Americans Elect and No Labels emphasize that they are not political parties, true effectiveness and the ability to reform the nation’s politics will only come if they join with the Reform Party and compatible state entities into a single, strong party. The question remains whether these disparate groups are capable of compromising and unifying. Another question is how quickly they would be able to challenge the current parties if they did unite. Each of these groups has already set an agenda for the fast-approaching 2012 elections. Thus it might be more reasonable for this new centrist third party to set its sights on the 2014 and 2016 contests.
Hopefully in the near future, the organizations of the moderate middle will be able to overcome their differences, develop a unified vision and present Americans with a real alternative to the current political duopoly. It is a logical path to a centrist third party.
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
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