Article: What 3rd Party?

What 3rd Party?

July 10, 2018 - Critical Thought Critique

It is the year 2018, most Americans have just celebrated the 4th of July.  For the past two years, after Donald Trump has become our country’s 45th President, it seems there is a divide among the Left.

There are many who have been chanting how he has corrupted the system. Some have been stating that he is a reflection of what our system has become. Due to all the controversy surrounding this past election there are those who believe that progressives, liberals, and leftists should start a 3rd party. Some argue that leftists should take over the democratic party. Many are saying that we should start a new party, but virtually no one has put forth the other idea; to join parties that already exist and are fully recognized by the U.S. government.

We know that there are already two fairly well known ‘3rd’ parties that run in elections in the United States: the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. One of which is already progressive/left. Both of the two are small in comparison to the two major parties but they are steadily growing. Beyond that, do we actually know how many parties exist in the US?

Many people want real transformation in the government, a real representation of what they believe in and a stronger democracy.  As far as Bernie Sanders goes, we can’t depend on him to help start a new party. Sanders has made it clear that even though he is a Democratic Socialist, he won’t stand with a third party. He knows how hard it is in this country to stand up against the two-party system we have and he has already avoided becoming a 3rd-party candidate.

Here is a list of recognized left-leaning or progressive parties that we found.

This list is by no means definitive, it will just give all of us some idea of what parties do exist in this country but are drowned out due to lack of funding or membership.

• Communist Party:  Founded in 1919/ International Party; They structure themselves under Marxism.
• Freedom Socialist Party:  Founded in 1966/ International Party; They are structured under Marxism/Trotskyism.
• Green Party:  Founded in 2001/  International Party; They are progressive, believe in Democratic Socialism, and believe in green politics.
• Humane Party:  Founded in 2009; Focus is on animal rights.
• Justice Party: Founded in 2011; This party focuses on social democracy.
• Legal Marijuana Party:  Founded in 1998; They have focus on the same issues as the Farmer Labor Party with an emphasis on legalizing marijuana.
• Party of Socialism and Liberation:  Founded in 2004; Their focus is on communism and workers rights.
• Peace and Freedom Party:  Founded in 1967; They have a strong focus on Democratic Socialism.
• Socialist Party: Founded in 1973; They hold beliefs in democratic socialism, they are anti-interventionists and anti-capitalist.
• The Pacifist Party:  Founded in 1983; They are anti war and anti-intervention.
• The U.S. Pirates Party:  Founded in 2006; This party supports reform of copyright laws to reflect open source and free culture values, government transparency, protection of privacy and civil liberties.

So maybe the time is now.  The time for the people to get together and join a party they agree with.  It’s not enough to only join though, word must be spread. Movements need to grow.  Names need to be put on the ballot. We need to make a structured decision on what we want to achieve. I would argue joining a party that takes on progressive ideas is the best way to do that; an already-existing party that has progress and democracy on its mind.  There is no reason not to join more than one.

There needs to be more unity on the left.  We must have a more coherent direction. We need to start thinking about what 3rd party is most viable.  We must do it together and stand together but apart from the right; the direction the democrats are moving closer to.  We on the left need to look to each other to find progress, we need to look to each other to find answers. Because no matter how we look at it, either taking over the Democratic Party or going to a new political party we know that we as a society are, as of now, being pushed into separation and atomization.