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Progressive Third Parties: A Reality Check
Many progressives are, understandably, unhappy about the Biden-Harris ticket. Both are moderates (despite countless efforts to paint Kamala differently), the Democratic party platform does not support Medicare for all, and it is lukewarm on addressing climate via tactics such as eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. These and other issues have led some progressives to abandon the Democratic Party in favor of their own People’s Party. Unfortunately, their efforts resemble less a viable political strategy and more the political equivalent of being impatient with a long path and jumping off a cliff while tied to everyone else.
Moving beyond our two-party system is a good idea. After all, it is untenable to think the Democratic party can house the disparate political views of progressive Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and former Tea Party Republican John Kasich for any length of time (their recent back and forth illustrates this reality). According to a Gallup poll, 57% of Americans believe we need a third, major party. Many people recognize they are inadequately represented in our current system and their energy could be harnessed to create a third party, but it must be done intelligently.
Unfortunately, the Movement for a People’s Party currently lacks a viable strategy. Their own website outs their magical thinking: “Four years from now, at the People’s…
