The Third Political Party

Is this the solution to bring democracy back to America?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

More than a few times, I have encountered Medium articles about how a viable third party can improve democracy in the USA. Dick Dowdell’s article is the most recent:

What If America Had a Third Party That Just Solved Problems?

I can’t argue with Mr. Dowdell’s logic that a third party would give voters another option. And with that option, the other two parties just might reform themselves to be more relevant to the people they govern.

While I agree that democracy will improve, this change will still not bring the results many of us are looking for.

Third parties in recent USA presidential elections:

1) Ross Perot in 1992, siphoning 19% of voters from George Bush 1; i.e. GB1 would have won.

2) Ross Perot in 1996, siphoning 8% of voters from Bob Dole, i.e. a coin-flip election, and Bill Clinton won the toss.

3) Green Party in 2000, siphoning 2% of votes from Al Gore. With 2% more, Gore would have won Florida and probably…