A near majority of Americans now say they are independent of the two parties. For nearly two decades, majorities of Americans asked whether they wanted a third choice have said yes. So, this has been building.
My guess is we will see a Republican, Obama and Bloomberg (and some other choices that will not get media attention or have money). Sadly, that will not be much of a third choice since Bloomberg is very mainstream, a corporatist who supports the militarist U.S. foreign policy. But the choice might be enough to satisfy the voters and confuse them enough into thinking Bloomberg is a real third choice.
My hope is for some real challengers from outside the system. There are lots of new multi-hundred-millionaires and a record number of billionaires. It is going to take one of them to shake things up. Putting $100 million of their own money into a campaign will get media credibility.
Getting into the debates will be the second big challenge (the first one will be getting on the ballot in 50 states – but lots of money can overcome that one) as the debate commission is controlled by the two parties and funded by corporate interests and was designed to keep anyone but the duopoly candidates out.
Fracturing the two parties would be a good thing for the country.
