Americans Losing Faith In Two Party System

Americans Losing Faith In Two Party System
By David Mixner
Copyright by David Mixner
May 13 2010
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Is this good news for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg? In the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, only 15% of Americans believe that the two-party system works fairly well. Almost a third believe it is time for a third party. This can't come as a huge surprise given the increasingly large number of independent candidacies and the polarization of American political parties.

Throw An expanding number of American political figures are now running as Independents as a means to survival. The label of Independent dramatically increases their chances. In the vanguard of 'saving my ass' Independents was most notably United States Senator Joe Lieberman who has since been joined by Florida Governor Charles "I Am Not Gay" Crist in Florida. United States Senator Bennett in Utah is exploring a write in as an independent after been handed a serious defeat at the statewide Republican convention.

However, led by former United States Senator Lincoln Chafee who is running for governor of Rhode Island, there is a new breed of Independent candidate. Not one switching to save ass but to create a new and exciting possible independent force in American politics. Americans are increasingly frustrated hearing about change from all sides and seeing politics as normal. Tuesday long term Democratic West Virginia Congressman Alan Mollohan was defeated in a primary by a Democratic version of a teabagger. Incumbent party switcher Arlen Specter is in the race for his life in next week's Democratic primary. Bet he wishes now he had taken the Lieberman/Crist model and run as an Independent.

Rarely have I seen the American political system in such an unpredictable, 'vote out all the bum's' mood. Not sure any candidate is safe this year in either party.