by Paul Schingle

Created on: December 30, 2009   Last Updated: December 31, 2009

Worded just slightly differently, I would vote for the other side. If the question was asking 'should' America have more than two viable parties, I would answer in the affirmative. Actually, what I'd really love to see is a no-party system. Voters couldn't use labels as crutches and politicians would have to say what they mean rather than lean on "party-line" politics. 

Alas, this is not very likely ever to happen. And, why is this? Unfortunately, it is because the American voter is entirely too lazy to take the time to find out anything real about the candidates. Our current two-party system is convenient for the voter and, as a result, we reap what we sow.

Over the course of time, there have been viable third parties in America. But, every single time this has happened, instead of making three solid parties, the upstart party has actually ousted one of the previous two mainstays. The most recent of these events took place in the middle of the nineteenth century. 

Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican elected as president. The Republicans were a relatively new party, but were seen as unifiers at the time.  With the increased popularity of the Republicans, eventually the Whig party just folded up tents and were never heard from again.

Now, some might argue that there are some valid third parties in America. I would argue that, while they may be valid, they aren't necessarily viable. The most obvious of these is the Libertarians. They've had a canididate for president in every election since I've been voting, it's true. 

However, due to a lack of funds and a lack of publicity, no Libertarian has taken more than 5% of the vote in any national election. Ralph Nader is a big name as a consumer advocate and is known for his political awareness. 

He helped get the Green Party some notoriety, but very few votes. There have been others. The point is, no matter how well-meaning these other parties are, they don't have a chance playing against a stacked deck. 

The Republicans and Democrats have no desire to change the system and the American voter is only too happy to allow them to monopolize the political landscape out of sheer sloth.

If you ask me, America is in dire need of a viable third party (and a fourth party, ad in finitum). But, the question asked is as follows: "Is America ready for a viable third party?" and I'm afraid the answer is no. Worse yet, I'm afraid the answer is always going to be no. America may never be ready for a viable third party.

Learn more about this author, Paul Schingle.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.