by Stephen Pate

Created on: December 06, 2009   Last Updated: December 07, 2009

Is the U.S. ready for a viable third party? In a word, yes. However, I think the U.S. is ready for a viable fourth and fifth and sixth party as well. To think that the whole of American political belief can be summed up in three parties is almost as naive as thinking that it can be summed up in two parties.

Considering the turbulent political landscape in the U.S. going on currently, I think we need an electoral system that better allows the election of multiple parties.

The evidence of this is most apparent when you consider the current state of the Republican Party right now. During the 2008 Presidential election, the GOP ticket was split along ideological lines. John McCain, the Presidential candidate, represented the libertarian wing of the GOP, which is more pro-choice and more favorable to drug decriminalization.

His Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, represented the Christian conservative wing of the GOP, which is adamantly pro-life. It was hoped that this would band the conservatives of the United States together and keep a Republican in the White House.

But it didn't happen. Christian conservatives did not like McCain's soft stand on abortion and religious issues. Liberal and libertarian Republicans did not trust Sarah Palin to be experienced enough in complex issues to serve as Vice President to a man as old as McCain. This rift within the Republican Party did not garner enough trust in American voters to get them elected.

This split between liberal and conservative Republicans was shown once again in New York's 23rd congressional district special election that took place in 2009. New York's 23rd district is a conservative cornerstone for Republicans.

Most of the area of NY-23 has not been represented by since the 1800's. In the 2008 congressional elections, John M. McHugh, a moderate Republican, was elected to represent NY-23.

After Obama took office after the 2008 presidential election, he nominated McHugh to serve in his administration as the Secretary of the Army. McHugh was confirmed by the Senate, and New York governor David Paterson set a date for an election to fill the vacancy for November 3, 2009.

There would be no primary election for the candidates. Instead, party leaders of the county that made up the district would choose their party candidates.

Bill Owens was chosen as the Democratic candidate while Dierdre Scozzafava was chosen as the Republican candidate. However, New York is known for having many independent parties run in elections.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next Page >>