Will there ever be a third party that will take up seats in Congress?

Yes we see this power struggle between two parties. One half is always Republican and the other half Democratic (give or take) all the time with sometimes majority rule in some years, yet why isn't there a third party like many countries have?

I mean why are they excluded? Are we as a people only thinking two different ways?

Would it destroy our Congress to have a third opinionated party with ideals that take up seats in both the Senate and House of Represenatives?

Why isn't it happening? Please explain to us the reasons since so many on this site are canny & clever in the world of politics.

I think we do have more than two parties, just like we have more than two races, but most people just identify with the majority' two and they are the two who get the spotlight

Oh I know we have more parties but they don't get any seats in Congress. I am wondering if a third party will ever get some seats and represent that actual party they created.

For example "The Green Party" or the "Modern Whig Party" or what have you actually has 10 seats in the Senate and 30 seats at the House of Represenatives.

and through the years the seats get bigger.

Yes the media is the problem because the spotlight only goes to two parties or at least the major networks do that.

we have too many parties as it is. don't need anymore. if you affiliate with ANY political party you're part of the problem. these parties need you. they cannot survive without you. they need you even if you join the opposing party. it's the partisan party bickering that keeps them in power. if two parties ever got together and accomplished needed legislation, one or both would have no more reason to exist. they really need you folks to toe that party line.

The problem is I don't agree with the Democrats or Republicans and those are the only two hacking it out.

Then I looked at the modern whig party and they only have like what a couple of thousands followers.

Then there are more out there but they all have less then a small town of followers. lol

I think now I am understanding why the majority of the people don't vote in this country. We only have like 80 million voting out of the entire population, but that kind of hurts us doesn't it??

Because when decisions are made then only 40 or 50 million will agree with that decision because they represent that party, but the other 300 million had no say in it making it a decision that the majority of the people may have not wanted.

When I go overseas I get people telling me they like the Americans but they hate the government. I tell them that I don't vote so where does that put me. If I vote I get promises from the candidate, yet when the candidate wins nothing happens because they can't get enough support for the idea or the other party disagrees ensuring the law doesn't pass through.

So it is a bunch xoxo if you ask me.

It is times like this I just wish I could live on a island and be away from it all. Oh wait I am already doing that! lol

perhaps next election we should all just not show up.

That would be interesting. What happens if not a single person voted on the next presidential election. What would happen then? Would Obama stay president until someone votes. How would that work?

for president the electoral college would elect. i'd imagine each congessman/woman would vote for himself. a bunch of ties if there were no unopposed incumbents. can't imagine things could be worse and at least we'd send a message.

if noone voted, nothing would change

but I think, technically, the senate selects, or in absence of that selection, the VICE President becomes president by default until the dilemma is resolved,,,

the electoral college would still vote on a president, like always...the peoples vote means nothing to elect a president...

As long as people continue to believe they have to choose between a rock and hard place in order for their vote to count it will not change. I do it too. I am Unaffiliated on my registration but I traditionally vote Democrat most of the time because it is the closest to my beliefs of the two parties.

Also the other parties do not get enough coverage nationally. I don't remember hearing of a rally for a third party.

When I have checked into other parties there seems to be extremists and extremists ideals being promoted in them. So that has been a turn off in the past too.

Ummmmmmmmm, there are two members of the Senate that are registered Independants. Joe Liebermann and Bernie Sanders whos a registered Independant Socialist.THere probably is a couple in Congress also.

I dont think there will many third party candidates elected to Congress, Senate or Presidency or many offices for that matter.

All though here in Nevada there are several city and statewide elected officials who are members of the Independant American Party (IAP).

IAP's are really insane. Ron Paul would fit right in with them. hell, he's a Libertarian and he's a member of Congress. He changed to Republican because he realized he couldn't be elected if he wasn't registered Republican or Democrat. I believe that's why Rand Paul is regestered Republican also. He used to be registered Libertarian also and he is as insane as his father.

No, we ALL need to show up to vote Obama Bin Laden out of office.

If, we peons had the power to get the two parties out of their seats, we'd need new blood that would swear to lead in strict accordance to the Constitution.

If, after elected, they decide to take special interest bribes, they could be fired and prosecuted.

Yes exactly! But how can we make this happen? Any ideas?

the constitution is not really so STRICT, leaves room for pretty broad interpretations, which will always be made

I think the system would work if people were more aware of how the different branches have to work to gether instead of placing so much expectation on any one 'candidate',,,,

If, I were to promote the idea of taking back our Gov. and giving the people back their representation, I could be viewed by BB as a terrorist.

They hate it when folks want to threaten their power and control.

Just bide our time.

When Oborme or a different pres. in power, makes us turn our backs on Israel, many changes will take place. It won't be a 'happy ending' for those who chose to follow them.

kinda like the way obarry signed the patriot act for another 4 years... more turning of their backs on the people...

The Patriot Act has done a lot of good and has prevented A LOT of bad stuff from happening.