third parties

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Despite being the constant underdog and loser in major elections third parties make some significant contribution to the political spectrum in the United States. Third Party Agendas are taken serious by the Democratic and Republican Parties and specific pieces of the Third Party Agendas are sometimes adopted by the two major parties. Third parties give discontented voters other alternatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties have been known to operate in similar styles and third parties give the voter the opportunity to express their discontent. The third parties in the United States are policy advocates and often are more specific about were they stand ideologically. Often the Republican and Democratic Parties try and take a moderate approach to political issues, and third parties are more conservative or liberal when it comes to political issues. Also, third parties tend to do exactly the opposite when their agenda concerns social issues. Then there is the ?spoiler factor? a Third Party Candidate can collect enough votes to change the outcome of a Presidential Election. In the United States political scientist and other scholars have placed third parties into four specific categories with various political functions. First, third parties are sometimes created to address sectional issues. Meaning a geographical area has a political or social issue or issues that are not being satisfied by the two major parties. Sectional Parties are often created and used to express the rights of particular states in America. One of the best examples of a sectional party was the Dixiecrat party of the south. The party was formed in southern states over the issue of Civil Rights and integration in the Unites States. Secondly, historically third parties have been formed to address single issues. In the United States these issues have included things such as slavery, prohibition, agricultural concerns, and other social issues. The Republican Party was originally a single issue third party. The issue the Republican Party was formed around was the expansion of slavery into newly created states and territories. The Free Soil Party is a strong example of a single-issue party formed with the goal of abolishing slavery in the United States. Thirdly, factions sometimes occur within the main parties themselves. These factions are often called party ... ... middle of paper ... ... appealing. They have a solid well-established Political Agenda and their views on economic and social issues are solid. These Parties are more permanent of the political spectrum, they do not place their views as moderate or in the middle. The third parties formed on ideological principles fallow their agendas. My Political Views are most consistent with the Libertarian Party. Libertarian party fights for the personal freedoms of every American. The Libertarian Agenda includes restoring Constitutional Government, legalizing narcotics, no gun control at all, eliminating the Federal Income Tax, cut defense and spending, and running campaigns on privately donated money. The Libertarian Party believes in absolute economic and social freedom. The party believes the only role of government should be protecting people and property against injury. The party believes that government should not regulate the economy at all. Government should only protect a business owner?s property and resources. Compared with the two parties in power currently, the Libertarian Party would not be consistent with either party?s agenda and is unique in its own political aspects.

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