Nathan Slatter

Will there ever be a viable third party? Probably not — or only occasionally through the years.

I think that there are various reasons why the third party will never, or rarely, become viable alternatives.

1. Too much infighting.

The problem is that your third party people are the type of people tend to not compromise on anything. They are very staunch in their stance, often to the point of offending those who may, very well, assist them in the long run. And even the ones who are rather close in vantage points are the ones who will fight over the minutia in order to get their own agenda heard and pushed.

Since I consider myself a Libertarian, I have had occasion to investigate that specific party and realize that this party will, more than likely, never make much more than a very small fuss simply because there is so much disorganization and splintering within the party. I can’t speak for the other parties but I’m quite sure that this is a reality in more than a few of the third parties. And this problem will never be corrected until there is a strong leader who can lead people to become engrossed with the main platform and stop the infighting, nitpicking, and minutia wrangling.

2. The “viable” theory.

Most people will say that they are not impressed with either of the big two at this point. They say that neither really effectively portray their own views — not even minutely. In my case, I can’t say that I like either of them because I see them as two side of the same coin that is grinding the US to its knees in various ways — namely over-spending.

Even the republicans who are FOR less spending have spent more in the last 8 years than ever before. I saw a report a while back that showed that the current administration has spent more than all of the presidents in office before it, across the board. Granted, I’m sure that this report didn’t take into account the depreciation of the dollar.

There is no viable alternative because no one will vote for a party unless it is viable and, therefore, a viable third party will never be viable. It quickly becomes cyclical and irritating to me because, often, the ones who gripe the most about the two biggun’s and not having a viable alternative are the ones who won’t vote for a third party because it isn’t viable — silliness.

My own personal wish is that a third party would rise and cause the big two to realize their own instability and waning support which might would cause them to be come more inclusive and open to the “fringe” element. I am smart enough, or cynical enough, to realize that this will never happen as long as people maintain allegiance to a party over the nation, and even an idea.

I have heard many of my Republican friends speak disparagingly of McCain (who is projected to win the Republican nomination), yet still choke down the idea that this is the only choice they have because they absolutely will not vote for a Democrat due to the socialist nature of the Democrats who are the options for running. They are gagging while swallowing the idea that McCain will win the nomination — yet would rather gag than vote 3rd party in protest. Even a 3rd party that may very well fit their ideologies better than the Republican party.

I read something by Newt Gingrich (the leader of the conservative takeover in ‘94) saying that he does not like McCain at all because of some of the things that McCain has brought about, but would still vote for McCain because fighting McCain 20% of the time is a lot better than fight either of the Dem’s 90% of the time.

Tom Delay (has obvious credibility issues, in my opinion, yet is a poster child for the Republican party) in an interview the other day when asked if he would vote for McCain just so the Clinton’s wouldn’t be back in the House. He said that he didn’t know which would be more dangerous as well as intimating that he might set out of the voting because of McCain (Watch HERE and HERE).

On the other hand, the few Democrat friends I have, and not because I don’t like Democrats but because I don’t have many friends, aren’t really pleased with their choices either. Hillary, some think, is not the person to bring the nation to a place of goodness and Obama hasn’t enough experience to really draw from — though he has good things to say but we all know that speech means nothing without action.

I’m just not sure I can do this, though I may find myself in that position come November. And I’m not sure which side I’m going to gag over but, if it comes to that, I may very well compromise EVERYTHING I believe for a single issue — but we’ll see how things go.