The US needs a credible third party

Only having two political parties that are capable of winning the White House and holding power in the Senate and the House has always been seen as a sign of democratic maturity. Many tend to laugh at Italy’s “pizza parliament” and watch with bemusement as Israeli leaders canvas a seemingly endless stream of parties in order to try and form a government. Even Canada with its four parties that hold seats in the House of Commons seems strange for those who believe in a strong two party system.

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Perhaps the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president will cause at least some Americans to question if they are being well served by the current two party system. While the pro-Obama pundits (ie most of them) have somehow convinced themselves that the president-elect will govern from the center, there is no escaping the fact that Obama is the most liberal member of the current Senate. President Obama, combined with Nancy Pelosi in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate pretty well insures that the next US government will move far to the left. Much like Canada’s CBC, balanced political debates will consist of exchanges between the left and the far left.           A credible far left or socialist party would benefit the American political landscape. It would give a new home to what Rush Limbaugh calls the “kook fringe” of the Democratic Party, leaving the Dems more of a centrist or center left party. By having another party on the left and with the Democrats remaining near the center, the Republican Party could then free itself from RINOs such as John McCain who would hardly provide a choice to a true centrist party. Politicians like John McCain would become indistinguishable from a Democratic Party free from its far left members. The Republican Party could then become conservative. Under a three party system, Sarah Palin would still get smeared by two parties but at least one of them wouldn’t be her own.           By having three clearly delineated parties, voters would have to pay attention to the platforms of the various parties. While many Americans did vote on where the candidates stood on the issues, many did not. Barack Obama obtained a lot of votes simply because he was leading a party that didn’t have George W. Bush in it. Many voters chose the Democrats not because they agreed with Barack Obama’s plans to “spread the wealth around” or his giving tax cuts to people who pay no taxes (what used to be called welfare) but because they were bound to vote against the party that occupied the White House during the last eight years. A three party system would force more voters to think about the issues; even if they hated one of the parties they would still have to decide among the other two.           Having three mainstream parties in Congress would not be difficult under the American system. Members of Congress, unlike many elected representatives in parliamentary democracies are not forced to vote with their party leaders. It might lead to true bipartisanship, (or more aptly, tripartisanship) which at least give Americans a break from having to hear about it all the time.           Of course all of this is easier said than done. There are numerous political parties in the United States including socialist and far left ones and simply wishing one of them becomes a mainstream party, capable of sending members to Congress, will not happen. But it would prove to be beneficial in the long run.

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