In the US, is a center right party needed?

[ElasticNinja]

In most developed countries, there is s center right party, yet in the US there is none
Is it time for like minded people from non political backgrounds and other parties to form one?

 

[byteware]

In most developed countries, there is s center right party, yet in the US there is none
Is it time for like minded people from non political backgrounds and other parties to form one?

We, effectively, have a two party system. There is an incredibly steep barrier to creating a third party.

For example, you must gather a hundred thousand signatures (number may not be accurate) just to be on the ballot in some states, because they only recognize the two "official" parties.

 

[Martimus]

If you add a center right party then what about a center left party? And if we're adding political parties what about officially recognizing the libertarians, the communists, the tea party, and every other like minded group of individuals who want political representation?

I personally don't believe that adding more political parties to the fray is the right answer. I personally believe that politicians need to return to the old-fashioned ideal of representing their constituents and not their political party.

 

[Bob Maxey]

In most developed countries, there is s center right party, yet in the US there is none
Is it time for like minded people from non political backgrounds and other parties to form one?

Forming yet another party that can matter is futile. Currently, there are more than 30 parties in this country and still, only the democrats and republicans matter. what we DO need is to find people we can elect that are fair, willing to do the job they are hired to do, understand history, the constitution, and the bill of rights. Add a little common sense and we have a great candidate for public office.

We do not jump ship and start looking for new political parties; we keep both existing parties and find great people.

Bob

 

[ElasticNinja]

I personally believe that politicians need to return to the old-fashioned ideal of representing their constituents and not their political party.

actually in my country, this is a big issue, and I'd challenge your view on this
One of the big political problems here is that people look after there constituents - rather than focusing on national issues
you'd be shocked to find how many politicians have been elected for getting potholes filled/ramps put in housing estates/extension to school/lightbulb replaced

Even our MEPs (Euro MPs) only ever talk about regional issues, never European ones

Its fairly crap

 

[byteware]

actually in my country, this is a big issue, and I'd challenge your view on this
One of the big political problems here is that people look after there constituents - rather than focusing on national issues
you'd be shocked to find how many politicians have been elected for getting potholes filled/ramps put in housing estates/extension to school/lightbulb replaced

Even our MEPs (Euro MPs) only ever talk about regional issues, never European ones

Its fairly crap

It's called pork, and it's the same here. That's why it's so hard to get rid of pork. It's only pork when it's somebody else's.

 

[ElasticNinja]

If you add a center right party then what about a center left party?

I realise the Democrats are more centrist, but would they not effectively be the center left representive already?

And if we're adding political parties what about officially recognizing the libertarians, the communists, the tea party, and every other like minded group of individuals who want political representation?

and most are recognised (I know the libertarians are, Communist party surely too) while the Tea Party is more a group in the Republicans,no?

 

[ElasticNinja]

It's called pork, and it's the same here. That's why it's so hard to get rid of pork. It's only pork when it's somebody else's.

I know.. I do remember Palin's Bridge To Nowhere

 

[byteware]

I realise the Democrats are more centrist, but would they not effectively be the center left representive already?

Nope, they are left left. You agree more with the majority of their positions so you see them as slightly left of center (Die Hard Conservatives see the Republican party as Right of Center... just FYI).

and most are recognised (I know the libertarians are, Communist party surely too) while the Tea Party is more a group in the Republicans,no?

No, they are allowed, but they aren't recognized. Many states require signature drives to put a third party candidate on the ballot.

I know.. I do remember Palin's Bridge To Nowhere

This is why political rhetoric does not belong in an honest discussion about politics. You can't blame that bridge on Palin, since she was not in Congress, and had no business in funding the bridge.

You CAN blame her for accepting the money.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Nope, they are left left. You agree more with the majority of their positions so you see them as slightly left of center (Die Hard Conservatives see the Republican party as Right of Center... just FYI).

Im not sure I agree with most positions, I would agree with the social ones tho in general... center left parties in Europe implement much more left policies than the Dens

This is why political rhetoric does not belong in an honest discussion about politics. You can't blame that bridge on Palin, since she was not in Congress, and had no business in funding the bridge.

You CAN blame her for accepting the money.

I agreed with her to get rid of it, it was just the only named example I could remember

 

[Martimus]

actually in my country, this is a big issue, and I'd challenge your view on this
One of the big political problems here is that people look after there constituents - rather than focusing on national issues
you'd be shocked to find how many politicians have been elected for getting potholes filled/ramps put in housing estates/extension to school/lightbulb replaced

Even our MEPs (Euro MPs) only ever talk about regional issues, never European ones

Its fairly crap

And here in the U.S., most politicians focus more on the needs of their party and the needs of their corporate (big money) sponsors. So you see we have the opposite problem... and it's likely just as bad as what your country experiences.

 

[ElasticNinja]

And here in the U.S., most politicians focus more on the needs of their party and the needs of their corporate (big money) sponsors. So you see we have the opposite problem... and it's likely just as bad as what your country experiences.

oh, I see I misread your post!
well, what I was saying was that its best to focus on what area they were elected to

focusing on your corporate/union masters and party issues is worse than small townism.. IMO

 

[cjr72]

It's been argued that our winner-take-all political system can only support two major parties in the long run. If true and a major center right party does come about my guess is the party to the right of it will fade a away. Once that happens the center right will move further to the right to offer a clear alternative to the party on the left, ending up pretty much with what we have now.

 

[byteware]

It's been argued that our winner-take-all political system can only support two major parties in the long run. If true and a major center right party does come about my guess is the party to the right of it will fade a away. Once that happens the center right will move further to the right to offer a clear alternative to the party on the left, ending up pretty much with what we have now.

It can also be argued that only a two party system can be a winner-take-all political system.

What that means is... there is nothing in our system that precludes a third party, it just won't be as cut and dry as it is now.

 

[cjr72]

^^ Some more info: Duverger's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ElasticNinja]

Well ay least Ireland does something right, PR!

 

[cipher6]

In most developed countries, there is s center right party, yet in the US there is none
Is it time for like minded people from non political backgrounds and other parties to form one?

How do you define "center right?" Thats really a matter of opinion relative to the individuals political leanings.

 

[TheBrit]

How do you define "center right?" Thats really a matter of opinion relative to the individuals political leanings.

The position occupied by the Democrats in the USA is Center Right when compared to political parties in Western Europe. Like you say - it's relative.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Here is a pretty good page that explains the core differences between Republicans and Democrats.

The Differences Between Republicans And Democrats

The problem is, some republicans claim to be republican, but they push ideas and agendas that do not follow the core republican party beliefs. And ditto, the democrats. Governor Arnold was not exactly republican although that is his party affiliation.

That is why we have the Ultra-Left and Ultra Right; liberal republicans and conservative democrats. We have many democrats calling us republicans too far right-wing or hateful when all we are doing is following our basic republican beliefs, and we have democrats in power that ignore the founding documents altogether, which true democrats would likely never do in earlier times.

Obama should just go ahead and rename the Whitehouse, Tammany Hall.

Even I am not following the Republican ideals. I do not believe that God exists. I am not against stem cell research, and I have mixed feelings regarding abortion.

Bob

 

[Bugly]

My belief is that all career politicians are lying, cheating, thieving a-holes that need to be put in a special prison with one-way doors leading them in and no exit.
If I tried to do the things these so-called "leaders" do, I would end up in a similar situation to that I just described.
Throw out EVERY incumbent, no matter who he (she) is, and start over. If they don't do their job correctly, throw them out again, repeat until the aristocracy is disempowered and our country returns to its former greatness.
Impossible, you say? If you truly believe that, you should stop whining about how bad it is, you won't do anything to change it.

 

[cipher6]

Throw out EVERY incumbent, no matter who he (she) is, and start over. If they don't do their job correctly, throw them out again, repeat until the aristocracy is disempowered and our country returns to its former greatness.

I like that idea, its hard to believe sometimes, politicians can get busted smoking crack, or with 50,000 cash in their freezer, or all kinds of other crazy charges, then get re-elected.

But, I don't think the politicians are the major problem, and I don't think throwing them all out, and replacing them with someone else will return us to greatness.

I think the problem lies less with government and more with the people.

The beauty of a democracy is, the people get the government they deserve. If they become fat lazy and stupid, they will elect fat lazy and stupid politicians, because they will say the things they want to hear.

 

[Bob Maxey]

I think the problem lies less with government and more with the people.

The beauty of a democracy is, the people get the government they deserve. If they become fat lazy and stupid, they will elect fat lazy and stupid politicians, because they will say the things they want to hear.

Very true. I believe the last thing some politicians want is an educated populous that follows the issues and holds those they elect accountable. If We The People voted, asked tough questions, tossed the bums out when they failed to do the job we hired them to do, things would change.

Bob

 

[embuchho]

Very true. I believe the last thing some politicians want is an educated populous that follows the issues and holds those they elect accountable. If We The People voted, asked tough questions, tossed the bums out when they failed to do the job we hired them to do, things would change.

Bob

I'm with you on this but I would throw in a press that is not compromised by the same big business (who pays for the advertising that is their source of income) who composes many of the the special interests that have compromised our political system.

If we had a press that reported facts in a non-dumbed-down manner, we (the populace) would have more material to use for thinking and holding elected officials accountable.

 

[cipher6]

I'm with you on this but I would throw in a press that is not compromised by the same big business (who pays for the advertising that is their source of income) who composes many of the the special interests that have compromised our political system.

If we had a press that reported facts in a non-dumbed-down manner, we (the populace) would have more material to use for thinking and holding elected officials accountable.

Again, I think the fault lies more with the people than the system, be it media or government.

Media, gives the people what they want, the higher the demand the more they produce.

If people wanted and actually read good reporting, news agencies would be pumping it out daily.

I think we've got one of the best systems the world has ever seen, its US thats the problem. How many times, skimming headlines have you skipped over the boring important stuff to instead click on the headline about what wacky thing Charlie Sheen said recently? Now multiply that by 300 million.

 

[embuchho]

I don't read like that.

Best news I've been able to find has been either German (FA and DW come to mind), the Economist magazine, the French stuff my wife and her family watch, or, believe it or not, Al Jazeera English. Don't knock AJ until you've actually seen it.