The Strange Demise of Mainstream Parties

"One paradox of American politics is that voters are both extremely polarized about politics and extremely disdainful of political parties. A record share, 43 percent, self-identify as political independents. Most of these are not true swing voters, but they hold both major parties in low regard. As of September, only 40 percent of voters approved of the ruling Republican Party. The Democrats' favorability was an even more miserable 37 percent-barely above their July showing, their worst in more than 30 years."

"The parties themselves look feeble and vulnerable to capture-by opportunistic candidates, attention-seeking infotainers, and parochial activists. Donald Trump's hostile takeover of the Republican Party is nearly a decade old. More than 60 percent of Americans want a third major party to emerge, even if the structure of the country's political system makes that prohibitively difficult. Reformers reason that by importing features of other democracies-a direct popular vote for president, tight limits on money in politics, voting by ranked choice-we could heal ourselves."

Voters are simultaneously highly polarized and broadly disdainful of political parties, with a record 43 percent identifying as independents and low favorability for both Republicans (40 percent) and Democrats (37 percent). Parties look feeble and vulnerable to capture by opportunistic candidates, infotainers, and parochial activists, exemplified by Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican Party. Over 60 percent of Americans desire a third major party despite structural barriers. Reform proposals include adopting foreign democratic features such as a direct popular presidential vote, strict campaign finance limits, and ranked-choice voting. Similar declines of mainstream parties and rising populism are evident worldwide.

Read at The Atlantic