Thank you for this clear-eyed view of third parties. Certainly, history and the structures in place make a third party v. challenging climb with a probability of failure. But in fairness, the "Maverick" approach faces many obstacles as well, some acknowledged -the need to "play the long game" and "build coalitions". Some of the reforms needed are seeing successes because nascent third parties are able to engage voters and help push these along (open primaries and RCV) and in doing so have helped elect moderates . Third parties are also not a reaction to the Republican Party, they also are seeing interest because of dissatisfaction of the Democratic Party. Both parties are not serving democracy. Can they be redeemed from within? Who really knows. Do we put all eggs in the basket that they can be saved? Not convinced. At the very least active third parties can also influence change. So, a v. good topic with much more nuance/much more to discuss. Despite real challenges, don't count third parties out.
Agree. We don’t need an excessive false dichotomy in this approach. Given that the “Maverick approach” will require a “long game,” we can take a pragmatic and compromise method while ALSO engaging in some efforts such as advocacy for rank choice voting (RCV)etc.
RCV in particular would not lead to “dilution of support” for whichever party a Mavericks approach would support on a given issue or election.
Thank you for this breakdown of third parties. Third parties, as of late, have made it easier for foreign rogue actors to manipulate American voters. Jill Stein is a good example of this.
Thank you for this clear-eyed view of third parties. Certainly, history and the structures in place make a third party v. challenging climb with a probability of failure. But in fairness, the "Maverick" approach faces many obstacles as well, some acknowledged -the need to "play the long game" and "build coalitions". Some of the reforms needed are seeing successes because nascent third parties are able to engage voters and help push these along (open primaries and RCV) and in doing so have helped elect moderates . Third parties are also not a reaction to the Republican Party, they also are seeing interest because of dissatisfaction of the Democratic Party. Both parties are not serving democracy. Can they be redeemed from within? Who really knows. Do we put all eggs in the basket that they can be saved? Not convinced. At the very least active third parties can also influence change. So, a v. good topic with much more nuance/much more to discuss. Despite real challenges, don't count third parties out.
Agree. We don’t need an excessive false dichotomy in this approach. Given that the “Maverick approach” will require a “long game,” we can take a pragmatic and compromise method while ALSO engaging in some efforts such as advocacy for rank choice voting (RCV)etc.
RCV in particular would not lead to “dilution of support” for whichever party a Mavericks approach would support on a given issue or election.
Thank you for this breakdown of third parties. Third parties, as of late, have made it easier for foreign rogue actors to manipulate American voters. Jill Stein is a good example of this.
Is pragmatism the principle?