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Let's face it, Americans have never been ready for a viable third party. We have always enjoyed having two teams on the field, and we want our "games" to end with one of these teams a winner and the other a loser.

With a strong third party in the mix, presidential candidates might be unable to attain a majority in the Electoral College and Congress would be in a state of perpetual gridlock. This is a republic, not a parliamentary democracy where governments are formed through tenuous and often short-lived coalitions. Americans appreciate the stability which the two-party system, with all its flaws, has provided for more than two centuries.

Although minor parties have been on the scene for much of our history and have occasionally influenced the outcome of elections, third-party strength tends to peak in just one election cycle. In addition, the third parties that have exhibited impressive electoral strength owed their brief popularity more to their charismatic leaders than any distinguishing policy agendas.

The Progressive Party would never have finished second in the presidential election of 1912 if its standard bearer was anyone other than Theodore Roosevelt. The Progressive Party died within a few years when Roosevelt returned to the Republican fold.

The movement George Wallace led in 1968 changed American politics forever, but Wallace supporters, former Democrats, found their permanent home in the Republican Party.

Ross Perot's criticism of the two major parties struck a nerve with 1992 voters who were tired of the status quo. The air went out of the Reform Party balloon when Perot became bored and impatient with the political process.

Some may look at the Republican Party's doleful condition and wonder if the time is right for formation of a third party by disaffected GOP moderates and fiscal conservatives who dislike the strident message being delivered by party leaders. A reality check is in order. Similar death pronouncements were issued for the Republicans in 1932 and 1964 and for the Democrats from 1980 to 1992. On the national scene, political success is cyclical, not permanent. Unhappy Republicans will leave the party, as Arlen Specter did, or stay in the party and work to change it from within. Politicians follow the rules of self-preservation. They have nothing to gain by forming or joining a third party.

The large contingent of voters who call themselves independents, about one-third of the American electorate, keeps politicians' feet to the fire. Thanks to the independent voters, presidential candidates must appeal to a broad electorate, not just the narrow base that participates in the nominating process. Independents give us all the benefits of a third party, without having us risk any of the chaos.

Third parties come into existence when a significant segment of the American electorate look at both the Republican and Democratic leadership and feel compelled to say, "a pox on both your houses." This is hardly the American mood in the early days of the Obama Era.

Learn more about this author, Jake Betz.
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