In the United States, we have a two-party system that has been in place for over 150 years. However, there are always third-party candidates who run for office and attempt to break through the barriers set up by the Democratic and Republican parties. These candidates often face an uphill battle, but they can also bring important issues to light that may not be addressed by the major parties.
The current election cycle is no exception. There are several third-party candidates running for President in 2020, including Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian Party, Howie Hawkins of the Green Party, and Brock Pierce of the Independent Party. While these candidates may not have much chance of winning the election outright, they can still play an important role in shaping public discourse and pushing their respective agendas.
One reason why third-party candidates struggle to gain traction is that our political system is designed to favor two dominant parties. The winner-takes-all electoral college system means that even if a candidate garners a significant portion of votes nationwide, they could still lose every state and come away with nothing. This creates a situation where voters feel like they have to choose between “lesser evils” rather than voting for someone who truly represents their values.
However, some argue that this is precisely why we need more third-party representation in government: because it provides voters with more options and allows them to vote for someone who aligns more closely with their beliefs. Third-party candidates can also bring attention to issues that might otherwise be ignored by mainstream politicians. For example, both Jorgensen and Hawkins support legalizing marijuana at the federal level—a policy position that neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump have endorsed.
Of course, there are downsides to having multiple parties competing for power as well. In parliamentary systems like those found in many European countries, coalition-building is necessary after elections because no single party has enough seats in parliament to form a majority government on its own. This can lead to a lot of horse-trading and compromise, which some argue is inefficient and counterproductive.
Another issue with third-party candidates is that they often lack the funding and support necessary to run a successful campaign. Major party candidates have access to large donor networks and media coverage that can help them get their message out to voters. Third-party candidates, on the other hand, typically have to rely on grassroots fundraising efforts and social media outreach in order to gain any traction at all.
Despite these obstacles, there are still many Americans who believe that third-party representation is crucial for a healthy democracy. They argue that by breaking up the two-party duopoly, we can create more opportunities for diverse voices to be heard in government. This could lead to greater accountability among elected officials as well as more robust debate around important policy issues.
So what do each of the current third-party candidates bring to the table? Let’s take a closer look:
Jo Jorgensen: Libertarian Party
Jorgensen earned her Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from Clemson University and has been teaching full-time since 2006. She served as Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee from 1992-1993 before running for President this year.
Jorgensen’s platform focuses on limited government intervention in both economic and social issues. She advocates for reducing or eliminating federal taxes like income tax, excise taxes, tariffs, estate taxes, etc., but also supports dismantling federal agencies (like Education) entirely or reducing their scope (like Environmental Protection Agency). Additionally she opposes gun control measures like background checks because it would infringe upon people’s rights granted under Second Amendment.
Howie Hawkins: Green Party
Hawkins has been an active member of various progressive movements since his college days at Dartmouth College where he helped organize protests against apartheid South Africa during his senior year while studying history & philosophy prior getting involved with activism over nuclear disarmament, environmental justice, labor rights etc. He’s perhaps best known for his role in founding the Green Party of the United States and is running for President again after being the party’s nominee in 2012.
Hawkins’ platform focuses on social and economic justice issues such as Medicare-for-all, free college education & student loan forgiveness, living wage jobs guarantee program that also prioritize green infrastructure investment & transition towards clean energy sources etc. Additionally he supports wealth tax to fund these programs.
Brock Pierce: Independent Party
Pierce is a tech entrepreneur turned venture capitalist who made his fortune in cryptocurrency markets like Bitcoin. He has no political experience but has been involved with progressive causes like criminal justice reform and charitable works through non-profit organizations since early age.
Pierce’s platform focuses on digital innovation & blockchain technology along with social policies like universal basic income (UBI), decriminalization of drugs including psychedelics, providing more resources to mental health services etc. Additionally he advocates for treating internet access as human right by making broadband service affordable & accessible to all Americans regardless of their location or financial status.
In conclusion, third-party candidates may not have a realistic chance at winning the presidency this year or any other year under current electoral system but they provide an important perspective that can challenge dominant narratives around policy-making decisions by major parties. If having more choices and ideas represented in government is something you value then you should consider giving these candidates a closer look before casting your vote this November.