Josh Falcone – General Assignment Reporter
In light of the recent shutdown of the United States government, many American citizens believe that it is time for a third major political party to challenge the Democrats and Republicans.
According to a recent Gallup Poll, during the shutdown 60% of Americans said the Republican and Democratic parties did such a terrible job representing the average American citizen, and that they thought it was time for a third major party that would do a better job representing the average American citizen.
The results were the highest in the 10-year history of the question being asked by the research center, according Gallup.
Southern student Kyle Tamulevich said he thinks it might be time for a political party to join the Republican and Democratic as the major parties in the United States.
“The Democrats and Republicans, they just go back and forth denying what the other one wants without a care for what the people want,” the political science major said. “Neither of the major parties seem to be concerned with what issues we as average citizens want to see be addressed. I think we seriously need a rival to the major parties we have now.”
Tamulevich’s opinion is in line with the findings of the recent Gallup survey, which in addition to the results of over half of those asked favored a third major party, also stated that a majority were dissatisfied by the way the nation is being governed. The poll also found that the government shutdown also caused the Republican Party’s favorable rating fall to it’s lowest ever.
According to Gallup, the previous high points in the public’s belief that a third major political party was needed was in August 2010, before the midterm elections, and the American public was unhappy with the government and the emergence of the Tea Party movement as a serious force in politics, and in 2007 when the newly elected Democratic majority in congress was squabbling with President George Bush.
Traditionally a majority of Americans have favored a third major political party when responding to the question, the Gallup article said, but there was a drop off in support to below the majority in the two previous presidential elections when the question was asked. The Gallup article also states that the lowest support for a third political party was in 2003, which was the first year the question, was asked by Gallup. In 2003, 56% of those asked believed the Democratic and Republican parties were doing a satisfactory job compared to 40% who believed the country was in need of a third political party.
Southern student Matthew Ursone said he agrees with the majority of the Gallup Poll responders in that a third political party is in need.
“I think it is time for a change in the political landscape,” Ursone said, “and a new major party is what the country needs to move forward on the right track. Another party would give the American people another choice in the voting booth, and it might cause the two major parties we have now to change their ways. It would be a positive change to American politics.”
Ursone said that while he believes a third major party would be a positive addition to the state of American politics, he doesn’t think it will happen anytime soon, and according to Gallup, he is not alone in this thought.
The Gallup article states that the United States election system is structured and due to the fact that both the Republican and Democratic parties have had the ability to adjust to the changing public opinion they have remained the dominant parties while any third party has been unable to find any long-term success in United States politics.
