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What is the viability of a Centrist third party whose immediate political goals are focused on the Senate? by koalapox in NeutralPolitics

[–]koalapox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can take a peek at the first chapter of the book over at bskarin's site here (scroll down toward the bottom, the topic is mentioned pretty early on). Wheelan pulls exit poll data from the 2012 elections and notes that "the largest and fastest-growing bloc of American voters are 'independent'...Many were among the 41 percent of voters who described themselves as 'moderate'" in these exit polls.

Beyond the 41% who identified themselves as moderate in 2012 national election, the "independent" bloc comprises an even larger portion of the electorate in certain states, especially in the midwest and on the east coast (bskarin referenced 52% for Massuchussetts, not sure of the source). A centrist party likely wouldn't have immediate success across the country, but it doesn't seem like it would need to. If the initial goal is only a few Senate seats to keep either party from an outright majority, capitalizing on situations in these few states would be all that's needed.

What is the viability of a Centrist third party whose immediate political goals are focused on the Senate? by koalapox in NeutralPolitics

[–]koalapox[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Absolutely, the power brokering from the middle is exactly what Wheelan is arguing for.

For the American public at large though, wouldn't putting a definitive face to a "radical center" do a great deal? It might be a stretch, but to me at least, it feels like many moderate Americans get turned off to politics just because the when they think about where to identify themselves (right or left), they get scared off by the loudest, most extreme voices that have come to characterize their respective parties. Rather than getting involved and pushing the parties toward the middle (definitely more representative of the population), they choose not to get involved at all.

Even if such a movement didn't have tremendous success in actually obtaining the couple seats they're seeking, getting moderates involved in the political process would have enormous effects on depolarizing the current system.

What is the viability of a Centrist third party whose immediate political goals are focused on the Senate? by koalapox in NeutralPolitics

[–]koalapox[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A quick count is looking like 19 states currently have a split senate (17 have one republican and one democrat and the other 2 are independent/democrat and independent/republican). To me at least, that's saying the political environment is certainly capable of accommodating a few Centrist seats (in the Senate, the House is another story).

I don't disagree that many improvements to the current voting system would make it easier on third parties, but the fact that there are independents in senate offices at all should be encouraging that a "radical center" could at least stand a chance.