Comments on: “Why Americans Should Support Third Parties” http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:51:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: Jeff Wartman http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-494214 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:46:33 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-494214 Which is why the first goal of third parties should be a change in ballot access laws. That's the first step. We will never get ahead until we can change tough ballot access laws. Which is why the first goal of third parties should be a change in ballot access laws. That’s the first step. We will never get ahead until we can change tough ballot access laws.

]]> by: Eric Sundwall http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-493920 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:07:40 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-493920 Hear, hear as always Richard. The clamor for this type of justice is more than just electoral tweaking. Hear, hear as always Richard.

The clamor for this type of justice is more than just electoral tweaking.

]]> by: Richard http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-493838 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:25:17 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/02/13/%e2%80%9cwhy-americans-should-support-third-parties%e2%80%9d/#comment-493838 Good article! But you should have titled the posting, "Why Americans should support minor candidates." I said in a recent post how I feel about "third parties." Supporting third parties would ultimately lead to more of the same, even if now they seem <em>completely</em> innocuous. Political parties quell national dialog and freedom of thought by maintaining a general platform. Let "general principle" setting be left to religious organizations, which incidentally are required to be kept "seperate" from state institutions. Indeed, political parties have turned into something very much resembling religions, with blind loyalties and incessant fighting. I thought this was particularly important: "[Minor candidates] presence facilitates political evolution and keeps the powers-that-be honest. Minor candidates are an important check on political tyranny. The Framers knew this to be a self-evident truth. What can voters do to support this political check? In the long run, they can see that restrictive ballot-access laws are repealed or amended. " Good article!
But you should have titled the posting, “Why Americans should support minor candidates.” I said in a recent post how I feel about “third parties.” Supporting third parties would ultimately lead to more of the same, even if now they seem completely innocuous. Political parties quell national dialog and freedom of thought by maintaining a general platform. Let “general principle” setting be left to religious organizations, which incidentally are required to be kept “seperate” from state institutions. Indeed, political parties have turned into something very much resembling religions, with blind loyalties and incessant fighting.

I thought this was particularly important:

“[Minor candidates] presence facilitates political evolution and keeps the powers-that-be honest. Minor candidates are an important check on political tyranny. The Framers knew this to be a self-evident truth.

What can voters do to support this political check? In the long run, they can see that restrictive ballot-access laws are repealed or amended. ”

]]>