Gallup: 58% Of Americans Want A Third Party
Americans’ desires for a third political party are as high as they have been in seven years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic Parties do a poor job of representing the American people. That is a significant increase from 2008 and ties the high Gallup has recorded for this measure since 2003.
Though the rise in support for a third party could be linked to the Tea Party movement, Tea Party supporters are just about average in terms of wanting to see a third party created. Sixty-two percent of those who describe themselves as Tea Party supporters would like a third major party formed, but so do 59% of those who are neutral toward the Tea Party movement. Tea Party opponents are somewhat less likely to see the need for a third party.
The desire for a third party is fairly similar across ideological groups, with 61% of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 54% of conservatives believing a third major party is needed. That is a narrower gap than Gallup has found in the past; conservatives have typically been far less likely than liberals and moderates to support the creation of a third party.
Independents, as might be expected given their lack of primary allegiance to either of the two major parties, express a greater degree of support (74%) for a third party than do Republicans (47%) and Democrats (45%).
I’ve never had a problem with third party candidates. I’d happily support and vote for any third party candidate I felt was appropriate. In fact, I’d say that the two so-called “mainstream” parties go to great lengths to keep third party candidates off the ballots and away from public debates.
That being said, I don’t think third parties are a solution for what ails America in and of themselves. Perhaps an instrument for a solution, but not the solution itself.
As long as government remains as large and powerful as it is most people who are sent to political office will be corrupted by that power regardless of what party they’re from be it Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Constitution or Green party.
The solution for so many of our problems, be it the economy or the amount of money spent in politics by special interests or run-away spending, lays with limiting government.
Tags: big government, gallup, polls, third parties
