Everyone in my class is too young to vote, but our teacher decided to direct us to www.glassbooth.com to see which candidate is our "best fit", so to speak. Imagine the surprise of many students when they found out that their ideas most related to Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney. "But I thought I was a Democrat/Republican...?"
Indeed, this quick homework assignment managed to throw off the party affiliations of a number of my classmates. Nevertheless, most people continued to endorse Obama or McCain, regardless of this newly gained knowledge of every candidate. Why is this? Have the issues become secondary to personality or party once a person has decided upon a candidate? Has the "mainstream status" of the Democratic and Republican candidates influenced them? What is it?
While I consider myself a Barack Obama supporter, my results matched closely to Green party candidate Cynthia McKinney. Knowing what I do now, if I had the opportunity to vote, I would still vote for Obama.
Why? Well, for one, there was 3% difference in my matchup to Obama and McKinney; I felt more strongly on some issues than he is reported to be, but there is a general consensus present. Still, wouldn't I want to endorse the candidate whom I related to the most? The answer? No.
Sadly enough, politics in the United States doesn't seem to favor third party candidates. As much as I would hope for those who run as Independents or under the Green Party to have a chance at the Oval Office, I know this will never happen. So I go for the next best person, in my opinion.
What do you think of the dominating two-party system? Is there anyway that our nation can set up a three-party system?
Feedback is encouraged!
Regards,
Kanika
If as many people actually vote Nadar as like they say they will (usually in jest however,) Nadar might actually have a shot this year. There was a joke in my history class last year that he was going to become the next Henry Clay.
When I did the quiz, there was about a one percent difference between the top three picks, with Nadar coming out on top. I thought that was pretty interesting, but then again, you don’t hear much about him.
I think that’s going to be the downfall of any third party candidate. They don’t have much publicity and it’s pretty hard for their name, views, etc. to get out there.
I loved your post. It absolutely gives all of us great insight into our own personal connections to specific candidates and addresses how closely aligned that we could be to third party candidates.
I took the test and my results matched closely with my number one pick. A few points doesn't make me change who I would support either, nor who I will vote for in this election. Every election and every candidate are different.
I think third party candidates will not have the same shot to get elected in a Presidential election as they may have as mayoral candidate, a county board member, a Senator or House of Representative position, or another local and state job. The strides to get recognized and respected as third party candidates start and get established in these offices and working directly with and for the people.
I do not see it happening in the near future, but progress brings about change. Decades from now may bring a third party candidate for a national office, but it may not be in our lifetime. They must keep pressing on.