Via OccupyPhoenix

[madscience.livejournal.com]

Comments

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

Actually, if you examine his political history, his problem with the major parties during his term was that he didn't have any solid policy opinions. While he managed to form a few over time, he was mostly a wishy-washy figure who failed to do anything strong for the state. The proposals he made garnered little-to-no support amongst the vox populi and consensus is that he would have lost the 2nd term election if Ventura had decided to go for it. Essentally, he was a non-entity - and a non-entity does not make for a strong leader.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

point remains that third party figures can achieve the highest of state positions. bernie sanders is an example of the federal level.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

Being elected doesn't mean shit. What you manage to get passed and what policies you are able to implement? That is the measure of success for a politician.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

when talking about viability of third parties, getting elected does mean something.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

Election is only a 1/3rd of the game. Viability is not determined by election alone and 3rd parties have a historically poor record of performance in this nation, even when elected.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

le sigh.....a little bit of knowledge is dangerous.

cite me examples of this and show that their so-called poor performance is a result of their third party status, otherwise your argument is like citing statistics of minorities doing worse on academic tests and having higher rates of incarceration. while technically true, it paints a misleading picture.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

cite me examples of this and show that their so-called poor performance is a result of their third party status

Let's see, the Liberal Republicans of 1872. Elected, failed to implement any of their anti-Reconstruction policies, wiped out by 1873. The Populists of the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The largest 3rd party ever, the Bull Moose Party, was without cohesion and made little difference in American history, politics, and legislation. Then there were the Dixiecrats (and you can include the other segregationist 3rd parties here) - totally unable to push a damn thing through. Henry Wallace's Progressive Party, also a failure. The Green Party - despite winning positions here and there, they've totally failed in implementation of anything in relation to their party goals. Same thing with the Socialist Party; Debs was ultimately a failure.

But you know what? Don't take my word or it. Let me instead defer to William Domhoff, author of Who Rules America? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Rules_America%3F), one of the best studies of the power elite in the USA. He'll be happy to explain to you why it's not feasible. (http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/change/science_egalitarians.html) Perhaps your lofty philosophy mind will listen to a fellow academic rather than a mere plebe like myself.