What Would a Successful Third Party Candidate Look Like?

Most people I talk to dream of the day when a strong third party candidate can compete in the national elections. This is probably going to stay a dream for a long time as the money both major political parties spend each election cycle is spiraling exponentially. It would be hard for an unaffiliated candidate to raise the hundreds of millions of dollars to get their message to voters. Even then, most people feel a vote for a third party candidate would be throwing their votes away.

Look at recent elections. The third party candidate often loses the election for the party they are a bit closer to. In 1992, Ross Perot took enough fiscal conservative voters from Bush Sr to sway the election to Clinton. In 2000, Ralph Nader took enough green votes from Gore to ensure Bush Jr. won the election. Third party candidates run on specific issues and cause one party to lose in the general election.

How can a third party candidate win? Well, Europe has a system where many more candidates can run in the general election and the top two participate in a run off. This is probably the only way a third party candidate can actually be a significant player. Americans won't go for this because we like our one election that shows instant gratification at the polls. Our system of party primaries is the closest we will likely get to a third party candidate as this is a free-for-all with the top two running in the general election. Pretty much a monopoly on the system from the two parties.

A third party candidate would have to have a platform transcending both national party core issues:

• Strong on national defense
• Fiscally conservative/responsible
• Morally acceptable
• Immigration policy that secures the border first then treats immigrants in the country as humans that need compassion
• Energy policy that implements new technologies more quickly while stopping foreign dependence
• Science-based education
• Prevent man-made global warming
• Protect a woman's right to choose with the rights of the baby to exist
  

This is just a short list. Both sides will find issue with this platform even though the majority of issues are acceptable to people as a national policy. Major political parties exploit one or two personal issues to keep people beholden to their party. Until individuals stand up and recognize no candidate will likely represent every policy exactly like a person believes, then we will have the two party system.

The key to government is to compromise on divisive issues quickly so it doesn't divide the population and get on to real issues facing the country:

• Rise of major economic powers and trade policies with them
• Repressive governments worldwide
• World poverty
• Education system to prepare Americans for the impending challenges
• Seriousness of the national debt and government financial obligations

We have very serious national issues today, but both parties have a vested interest in having their voting blocks remain ignorant of the threats and stir up passions with red herring issues that keep people going back to the polls.