On Third Parties
On Monday, PoliGazette contributor Michael Merritt published a post in which he announced that the recent mudslinging between Barack Obama and John McCain had convinced him that neither candidate deserved his vote and that he would, therefore, vote third party, namely for the Libertarian Party’s candidate Bob Barr.
As I wrote in the comment section of that post, I could very well vote third party if I were American - and then probably Libertarian. Not because I would agree with all of their policies, but because I could sympathize with them and because I would believe that the two major parties lost the right to govern due to their mistakes in the past - another argument: you guys need competition in politics. Not just between Republicans and Democrats, but between them and others.
Reader and regular commenter Jay C. then left a comment saying:
If for no other reason to vote 3rd party, (or specifically Libertarian) Michael is right on here:
Not because I would agree with all of their policies, but because I could sympathize with them and because I would believe that the two major parties lost the right to govern due to their mistakes in the past - another argument: you guys need competition in politics.
All I hear from both Democrats and Republicans are how the other guy can’t get the job done, disbursed with scaremongering tactics for reasons for why things are where we are today (economy, US standing in the world, Markets, etc). At least from 3rd party folks, or specifically Libertarians, they put all their cards on the table for all to see, and foolish or not, you hear what they think needs to happen to get the job done.
That is a sentiment I agree wholeheartedly with. I think that the two candidates, and the two major parties in general, are not trying to convince voters to vote for them, but to vote against the other guy (or gal). This is one of the main reasons you do not see much of a debate about policies in the United States these days; who cares about policies if it is all about destroying the other person’s / party’s image?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that a third party candidate will win elections, or, if he will, it will simply mean the end of one of the other major parties, meaning that one of them will be replaced by the former ‘third party’ which will then quickly become part of the establishment, meaning it will probably repeat many of the mistakes made by the former major party.
But - at least until that party becomes big, or if it does not then still as wel - I would have voted for a party and a candidate.
Again, I’m not saying I would vote third party if I were American, but I would certainly consider doing so.
I’m wondering one thing. Bob Barr and the Libertarians are against the Iraq war (though primarily for economic reasons) and are certainly not foreign policy hawks, like you.
Does this change your outlook on them?
I am a contrubuting Libertarian. I will not throw my vote away on Bob Barr. Where has he been? Please instruct all Libertarians to vote Republican for President. Then go for the Third party in 2012. PS: Stop whinning about the Democrats and Republicans; don’t even acknowledge them…..and start pushing Libertarian. I have hardly heard "word one" about Bob Barr.