High Country Unitarian Universalist Friends

This is the web page of the High Country Unitarian Universalist Friends. While we are not formally associated with the Unitarian Universalist Association most of us are former UUs and we align with UU beliefs.

Mike Weeda - Zoom - 3rd Party Presidential Candidates - click for details
Start Date/Time:
Sunday, October 16, 2022 4:00 PM
End Date/Time:
Sunday, October 16, 2022 5:30 PM
Recurring Event:
One time event
Importance:
Normal Priority
Location:
Zoom
Description:

Note that the discussion notes below were copied from Mike's original email. He may have updated the copy he keeps in Google docs so please check there for the latest version.

Third Party Presidential Candidates in the USA
HCUUF, October 16, 2022
Opening Words
Between 1840 and 1984, "minor" parties managed to capture 5% or more of the popular vote in 1/3 of presidential elections, and more than 10% in 1/5th of those elections. Furthermore, their participation prevented 14 of the 36 elected Presidents in the years prior to 1984 from receiving more than 50% of the popular vote.
Historical Efforts
Contemporary Efforts
David Brooks
Tom Malinowski
Jamelle Bouie
2022, Forward Party, Andrew Yang
What hypothetical party would reflect your opinions? The author of that piece, Lee Drutman, wrote “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop”, published in 2020.
Discussion Questions
  • Have you ever considered voting for a third-party candidate for President? Did you end up doing so? Why or why not?
  • Do you think any of the current third parties will amount to anything in 2024?
  • Have third parties been good or bad for the country?
  • Does the impact of third parties suggest that a parliamentary system is better or worse than having an elected president?
Closing Words
I’d rather vote for something I want and not get it, than vote for something I don’t want and get it.
- Eugene Debs, five times the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President.
Owned by Bill Hyde On Sunday, September 4, 2022
 

See our topics page (PDF) for a list of subjects that might be explored in future Zoom discussion meetrings as well as notes and references from previous meetings.