LeAlan Jones answered 5 questions for the Huffington Post this summer. The Green Party in both the Senate and Governors race are getting a lot of attention. Voters are looking for other candidates besides the standard Democratic and Republican brand. Some are protest voters, angry at other parties, but many are voters who are researching and deciding that the Green Party would represent them best. In such a close race, Republicans and Democrats worry that enough votes diverted to the Green Party could make a big difference. Research all the Green Party candidates in our upcoming elections at www.ilgp.org .
via Huffington Post
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It's great that third party voices are being heard, but I feel as though the general public does not take the stances and ideologies of third parties as seriously, simply because of the way our two-party system is. Our two-party system greatly affects our political culture.
ReplyDeleteI, along with many other students was really intrigued by the Green Party candidates at the Kick-Off event. Their fresh approach seems like it would be a very nice change for the politics of the state. However, even though Rich Whitney's ideas of the state bank, tuition-free higher education, and legalization of cannabis seem in theory to be good ideas to jump-start the economy, they also seem to be somewhat unrealistic. I think this is why the Green Party has trouble receiving enough votes to hold office; most adults of voting age are skeptical about whether the Green Party candidates could actually enact most of their ideas.
ReplyDelete-Jeff H.
I would have to agree with margaret's statement. The third party voices aren't being taken seriously enough for them to have an impact on our two-party society. They are very different approaches to problems our society faces. Maybe it's time for change. But ever since we have had a two-party society, our political culture has been based around that. Once people give third party candidates the time of day and listen to what values they hold, they could come back and be a part of the competitive struggle for holding office. That is the day i look forward to seeing, because our society will change greatly to accommodate a three party society.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost paradoxical that America is so obsessed with their dichotomous party system when the US is all about being an well thought out individual. It's become a choice between liberal and conservative. American's don't even have to know the NAMES of candidates. They can just check off the box that says "Republican". How many of us ACTUALLY know the issues? Most US citizens, in my opinion, are fairly moderate. So why are we forced to be "Yes" and "No" when most of us are in between. Whatever happened to the voice of the people? So, I for one, am completely on board with a third party FINALLY entering the political arena to represent the MILLIONS of unheard voices.
ReplyDeleteThe green party attracts voters away from the main two political parties. Although this party has picked up some steam with its fresh perspective, it most likely will not pick up enough steam to sway the votes in its favor for a victory. I also agree with Jeff's point. The green party is too idealistic for many qualified voters today. This party will at most steal some voters away from the main political parties, but I doubt we shall see a green party president in the near future.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that we are getting a somewhat formidable candidate in the green party for senate. We have become too aligned to the two party system which does not give fair represenation to all Americans. The green party is doing surprisingly well.Speaking as a staunch democrat we need more candidates like Jones. I can honestly say we would be in a better place If we had more football coach senators. Ian T
ReplyDeleteWhile the Green Party and other non-Republican/Democratic parties do have intriguing ideas as to how issues should be handled, they usually express them too liberally. From what I heard at the Mikva election kick off, the third party candidates wanted to implament things that sounded to me like they would be effective, but they were radically different than what already exists. While it's good that third parties are starting to become more and more known, but they would be more successful if they called for more gradual change. Shawn P
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