After watching the NYS gubernatorial debates, I have been becoming more anxious about the elections. Although the event at Hofstra was described as a "circus" or a "farse," it certainly allowed for some of the third party candidates to bring up important issues that our traditional two-parties have tended to ignore during this election season. The Green Party candidate, Howie Hawkins, addressed serious issues like the environment, health care, and even the state of our 'democratic' system.
Paladino has no hope of recovering, especially after revealing his anti-gay sentiments. Perhaps now that Cuomo has such a large lead over his homophobic opponent, real progressives will think twice about voting for the Democrat. It's time people who call themselves progressives got over this mentality where voting for a third party is considered a "waste of a vote" and vote for candidates who actually represent progressive views like Hawkins.
This would be a welcome change considering the large amount of Corporate Democrats in office who would really be part of the Republican party if it weren't for their liberal social views...that is to say that they aren't bigots, racists, xenophobes or sexists. Isn't it time we embraced other parties, or candidates, who represent real progressive change? The Dems say they want to change the status quo, but in fact, they are the status quo.
I love Warren. I'll be voting for him!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Let's go multi-party
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that in almost every case and every debate, the third party candidates are always more up on the facts, details and issues because they know more about them, and have to know the issues to stand out. The two main parties are concerned with just beating the other so they can hold onto power and get the goods while in office, but really never fulfill their promises mainly b/c of the power structure of the legislature (on all levels). As you mentioned they also get the most contributions and support from the people who want their ear when they get into office.
ReplyDeleteThis leaves the third party candidates, largely ignored by just about everyone, to actually say what they really truly believe, b/c frankly they will not win anyway so they might as well make a point.
The thing is, everyone agrees with this. It is easy to see that Hawkins, Redlich, and even Charles Barron were more open and forthcoming, and articulate with their ideas than Paladino and Cumo.
The other thing is, that while most people agree with this, general belief is that a vote for a third party is a "wasted vote." Thus, for some reason my vote for Hawkins is believed to somehow be wasted, wheras if I voted for Cuomo I would just be adding on to the steaming pile of shitload votes that he will get anyway; simply because Democrats usually just vote Democrat.
People just need to realize there is an alternative. Everyone this election is pissed off, be you a Dem, Rep, or anything else. Everyone says we need change and the polls for both parties are hideous, especially in Congress. They problem is the disconnect between the feelings and people realizing there is a real alternative to this.
Regardless, now I'm just angry again. See you soon brotha
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insightful post. It's true that the third party candidates aren't afraid to say what they believe also because they don't have to worry about upsetting special interest groups. It's quite difficult to get over the 'wasted vote' mentality, but for example, if the Green Party were to obtain a certain amount of votes (I think it was 50,000) they would be an official party in NY. It starts small, but I do believe it's important in order to get out of this traditional mentality that we suffer from.
Thanks again for the post.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the debates so I don't know much about the candidates, but I wanted to offer a thought in regards to multiparty versus two-party systems. In a two-party system, either party needs to aggregate enough support from both the base of their party (in this case, the Democrats) and enough moderates to form majorities. In countries with multiparty systems, it's very rare that parties on the far right or left are included in ruling coalitions. This has been the case in post-war Germany. Even the Labour Party in Britain was only able to come to power once their agenda became more centered from the left. The Tea Party is facing a similar issue in Delaware. While Christine Odonnell is the preferred candidate among Republicans in Delaware, her views make her "unelectable" among moderates and independents.
I agree that progressive ideas and platforms need more consideration in mainstream politics and debates. However, I think your wishes of a stronger progressive party will leave you with a divided left and election conquering right. It's the lesser of two evils.
Sort of a response to Ed, (Hi Ed, by the way)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go out on a really extreme limb here and say that we need to stop considering the Reps and Dems as legitimate. This election has been an election of soundbites without substance in both parties, and believe me, I should know. It's really hard to say how effective the tea party will be, but there are certainly a lot of disaffected people in the Republican party's ranks who have found a voice. Likewise, there are many of the left fed up with this empty rhetoric and promises of reform. A picture perfect example is the Dems in the NYS Senate getting control of the chamber. Very little has changed and nothing has been reformed. We need to stand on principles more than party lines.
In an interview w/ the Syracuse New Times, Howie Hawkins was talking about the goals of the Green Party. Hawkins mentions he wants to get 50,000 votes, so the Greens can be on the ballot for the next 4 years, and then be more involved in the discussion of issues. I think they took that as a sort of giving up answer. They asked Hawkins "So, you're not giving up your apartment?" He responded:
"We're trying to win. We're ready to govern. We're going to keep fighting. A vote for us increases support for our program. A defensive vote for Cuomo as the lesser evil compared to Paladino just means that progressives will be taken for granted and it will be seen as an affirmation of his conservative program."