Sixty-three percent of Americans say a third U.S. political party is needed, up from 56% a year ago and by one percentage point the highest in Gallup's 20-year trend.

Story Highlights

  • Third time support has exceeded 60%, along with 2017 and 2021
  • Republicans primarily behind the increase, with 58% now in favor
  • Political independents remain group most likely to favor third party
  • Bonskreeskreeskree@lemmy.world
    148·
    1 year ago

    Pasting my comment from further down the thread

    False. It sends the message that if that major party wants those votes they need to align with the 3rd parties policies. You keep narrowly losing elections because voters don’t support what you do, you’ll change if you ever want to win again. People are more concerned about winning every election, voting for the lesser of two evils, then wonder why our candidates keep getting shittier and shittier.

    • tacosplease@lemmy.world
      135·
      1 year ago

      Primaries are for sending your message. The actual election needs to be handled as harm reduction considering the options are mashed potatoes personified vs literal fascists. Neither is desirable but one is far more undesirable than the other.

    • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
      61·
      1 year ago

      That relies on the idea that those major parties care more about winning than the policies they are currently pushing.

      I don’t know too much about the US but if winning is not too important to that party voting for someone else won’t do a thing.

      Another option could be that party believes they will lose more votes than gain them with the policies of that 3th party.

    • ReallyActuallyFrankenstein@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      23·
      1 year ago

      I don’t know if you’ve been aware, but the last couple of elections had the potential to be our last free election. Your mindset of “it’s not about the results of this election, it’s about sending a message” takes for granted stability and ignores the danger of fascism removing or drastically diluting our ability to vote itself.

      For example: What message do you think you’ll send by splitting the left vote and putting Trump back in the White House? Do you think he’ll moderate his policies because a further left party got 10% of the vote rather than 2%? Do you think he’ll decide not to suspend elections or give himself another term, given the chance?

      If you want to vote for a third party in that setting, first you fix the system (ranked choice, etc) to avoid that vote leading to catastrophic outcomes. You don’t just ignore the catastrophic outcomes.

      • Bonskreeskreeskree@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 year ago

        I’m more concerned about moving the moderate needle of democrats like biden who threatened striking railworkers with prison. Who has carrot on a sticked legal weed since before he was elected and continued to move the goal post ever since. Moving trumps needle isn’t going to happen. There are more independents that would align with dems if they actually supported liberal policies than libertarians that would ever align with a republican. You’re going to have to come to grips with the fact that IF trump or any other authoritarian dickhead gets control again and actually destroys our democracy that you and anyone else that wants to fix it will have to fight to do so. The other side is already ready to fight to take away your rights.