A third-party candidate does have a chance ending up being the president, PHT, but I believe only a centrist third-party candidate has the real shot.
Our political system loves extremes and yet the winner goes to whomever swings the center. The Libertarian Party has no center and it is not centrist. Your Amash can be the spoiler, but not the winner.
That means the Green Party has a greater chance of bringing in the winner, but only under very special conditions. And let’s say it clearly here: the chances are indeed extremely small. But it is not zero this time around with two geriatric candidates running for the two parties ordinarily in full control of us.
And there is something new in the air: We have become aware that both left and right are equally sick of our system.
Here are the conditions to improve the third-party candidate’s chances to win the seat:
- The candidate must swear to pander to whichever party is in control of the House (the Senate is indeed important, but the House is the only institute of representation we have that can get close to indeed being called a democratic body; Senate and Presidency are races won by the wealthy and well-connected, the level of actual representation is extremely low).
- The candidate must also swear to leave the race if it appears that he (yes, he) won’t be getting more votes than Ross Perot did, but will stay if it looks like he’ll get more than 19 percent of the popular vote.
- The third-party president promises to sign any and all bills coming to him from the House (which in reality means the Senate is involved as well, but if it appears the Senate had too much say in the bill, then the third-party President is according to his own words allowed to torpedo it).
- The third-party president will put America’s interests first in international affairs, but will try to be a moderating force in internal affairs. Instead of being an egomaniac, he will listen to the House and seek to implement the House’s majority wishes (which will likely swing mid-terms).
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The sad part?
Left and right are stuck in this 18th century voting system that makes all of us extremely edgy and unhappy (even in good economic times). We’re voting more extreme, because it is obvious the system creates a theater with much to do about nothing instead of a body that can focus on the needs of voters.
There is a way out, US Constitution approved, though the first step is at the local level. It is a good and safe way to learn how a real democracy functions.
I don’t know who the Green Party candidate is. Perhaps you want to write about him or her?
Thank you for your good article. It is well written and interesting.
