Biggest challenge in US politics?
Political polarization and division of the two major parties.
Today, over 27 percent have negative views, with younger Americans wanting more political choice:
- 47% of 18-49 year olds
- 35% of 50-64 year olds
- 23% over 65
Pew Research has written an extensive report on American dissatisfaction with the two-party system.
Who benefits from division?
The two major political parties benefit from division. The manipulation of geographic voting boundaries (gerrymandering) at local, state and federal levels to favor either Democrat or Republican candidates leaves half of the electorate out of the democratic process, resulting in red and blue states, where half of the electorates’ vote simply does not count. Election results are almost predetermined. The combination of gerrymandering and sowing division through political fear mongering and polarization of the issues, serves only one purpose – to maintain power. There is no motivation for either party to fix a problem they have strategically used to win elections. The articles below explain how polarization is destroying our democracy.
- Polarization is dangerous for democracy —Pepperdine University Graphic
- Misperceptions about out-partisans’ democratic values may erode democracy —Nature
Third Party, non partisan national movements on the rise.
A 2022 Gallup poll found that a majority of Americans agree that Democrats and Republicans “do such a poor job that a third major party is needed.”
No Labels
No Labels is a national movement that began in 2009 and created the House Problem Solvers Caucus. They believe in bringing leaders together to solve our toughest problems, speak truth to partisanship and are tired of extremes from the left and the right. They seek common sense solutions. They are creating an “insurance plan” that would allow a Unity ticket to run for president if the two major parties select candidates the vast majority of Americans don’t want to vote for in 2024. Connecticut’s own Joe Lieberman is a founding co-chair. For more information, click http://nolabels.org
Forward (FWD)
The Forward Party was founded in 2020, by former Democrat 2020 Presidential candidate and 2021 NYC mayoral candidate, Andrew Yang and former Republican New Jersey Governor, Christine Todd Whitman. It is a centrist party wants to reduce partisan polarization and implement electoral reforms. It will endorse candidates from both major parties who support reform, with the intent not to be a spoiler, but decrease political gridlock in both Congress and state legislatures. For more information, click http://forwardparty.com