It seems that a whole lot of Americans agree with my view
that the nation needs a third political party that can cut through all the
hyper-partisan nonsense on Capitol Hill.
According to Gallup, support for a third party has
reached a new high. A new Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans say
the Democratic and Republicans parties do such a poor job of representing the
American people that a third major party is needed. That is the highest Gallup
has measured in the 10-year history of that question. Amid the shutdown, a new
low of 26 percent believe the two major parties adequately represent Americans.
reached a new high. A new Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans say
the Democratic and Republicans parties do such a poor job of representing the
American people that a third major party is needed. That is the highest Gallup
has measured in the 10-year history of that question. Amid the shutdown, a new
low of 26 percent believe the two major parties adequately represent Americans.
Of course, many of those expressing support for a new
party envision a separate tea party, or some kind of pro-labor party, not a
centrist, independent party that would be less strident and more pragmatic than
ideological.
Nonetheless, Gallup’s findings are that 52 percent of Republicans
and 49 percent of Democrats say a third party is needed. This marks the first
time that a majority of either party’s supporters have told Gallup’s pollsters
that a third party is needed.
Independents have consistently backed the formation of a
third party, but their level of support has reached 71 percent.
third party, but their level of support has reached 71 percent.
