A Government for the People

[buckeyefan78]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

I've got to go Tark. Well said though. I really do agree with much of what you say.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again - we need to switch to a proportional representation system. This would allow, smaller "3rd" parties to gain some power and influence, and would force more accountability.

Will you join me in this fight?

This would require a change in the Constitution which would require 3rd party power representation in Congress...not to mention the countless federal, state and local laws used to squash the 3rd parties ability to function.

Without 3rd party power to begin with the idea of proportional representation is a mute point.

After realizing this, I'd say the only way to logically support the proportional representation system would be to support 3rd parties effective immediately.

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by buckeyefan78

This would require a change in the Constitution which would require 3rd party power representation in Congress...not to mention the countless federal, state and local laws used to squash the 3rd parties ability to function.

Without 3rd party power to begin with the idea of proportional representation is a mute point.

After realizing this, I'd say the only way to logically support the proportional representation system would be to support 3rd parties effective immediately.

3rd party power can only come from proportional representation.

It's the chicken or the egg thing I guess.

[buckeyefan78]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

3rd party power can only come from proportional representation.

I'm going to need the phone # of your high school history teacher as well.

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by buckeyefan78

I'm going to need the phone # of your high school history teacher as well.

Please name one 3rd party candidate that had a reasonable chance of winning the presidency in American history.

[buckeyefan78]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

Please name one 3rd party candidate that had a reasonable chance of winning the presidency in American history.

What does this have to do with 3rd party power in American history?

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by buckeyefan78

What does this have to do with 3rd party power in American history?

Well, it's the most powerful office in the land. If you have no shot at that office, you really don't have much power, especially if you only have 1 -10 seats in congress at any given time in history.

You made a statement implying that my knowledge of third party power in this country is misguided. Please educate me on all of the power that third parties have had in America.

[buckeyefan78]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

Well, it's the most powerful office in the land. If you have no shot at that office, you really don't have much power, especially if you only have 1 -10 seats in congress at any given time in history.

You made a statement implying that my knowledge of third party power in this country is misguided. Please educate me on all of the power that third parties have had in America.

What did you major in at OU?

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by buckeyefan78

What did you major in at OU?

Political Science and History.

[buckeyefan78]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

Political Science and History.

Good Lord, it's worse than I thought.





Ok, you give me examples of 3rd power party in American history.

Well, it's the most powerful office (Presidency) in the land.

Really?

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by buckeyefan78

Ok, you give me examples of 3rd power party in American history.

Well, it's the most powerful office (Presidency) in the land.

Really?

Yes, it is the most powerful elected office in Amerca.

As for 3rd party success, it's been very lmiited, and mostly on state or local levels.

If you are talking about electoral success, I think anyone here could take the time to look up the limited number of elected third party candidates on the national level.

If you are talking about "success" in terms of influencing elections or policy, then that is an entirely different discussion.

Please Prof. Buck, enlighten this ethnocentric punk

[Ellis]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

Yes, it is the most powerful elected office in Amerca.

As for 3rd party success, it's been very lmiited, and mostly on state or local levels.

If you are talking about electoral success, I think anyone here could take the time to look up the limited number of elected third party candidates on the national level.

If you are talking about "success" in terms of influencing elections or policy, then that is an entirely different discussion.

Please Prof. Buck, enlighten this ethnocentric punk

The Republican Party was a third party. They've had moderate success.

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by Ellis

The Republican Party was a third party. They've had moderate success.

Not really. The Republican party was just a new name for the former Whig party.

The Whig Party separated into two parties. One of the two parties was bound to become the "other" major party. It happened to be the Republican party - AKA "the new Whig Party."

[Ellis]

Originally Posted by CKFresh

Not really. The Republican party was just a new name for the former Whig party.

The Whig Party separated into two parties. One of the two parties was bound to become the "other" major party. It happened to be the Republican party - AKA "the new Whig Party."

Bound is a strong word. But I'm not going to play word games. By my definition-- who cares what my definition is-- and my understanding of what defines a third party, the Republican Party was at one point a third party, when it originally split from The Whig Party, which at that time was one of the two main parties. The Republican Party ran against the Whig Party in one election. I don't see how the technicality of that doesn't make it a third party, but I'm only going to lose a little bit of sleep over it.

[Tarkus]

Originally Posted by Ellis

I don't see how the technicality of that doesn't make it a third party, but I'm only going to lose a little bit of sleep over it.

:thumbup:

[CKFresh]

Originally Posted by Ellis

Bound is a strong word. But I'm not going to play word games. By my definition-- who cares what my definition is-- and my understanding of what defines a third party, the Republican Party was at one point a third party, when it originally split from The Whig Party, which at that time was one of the two main parties. The Republican Party ran against the Whig Party in one election. I don't see how the technicality of that doesn't make it a third party, but I'm only going to lose a little bit of sleep over it.

My knowledge of this might be a bit cloudy... but....

Sometime in the mid 1800s the Whig party split into 2 parties - The Republicans and the American Party, better known as the "Know Nothing" movement.

The Whig party no longer existed. Instead, two factions of the former Whig party compete for dominance. One of those parties was bound to take over the role of the other major party.

Technically, they were a "3rd party," but for all intents and purposes, they were always the other major party.