The Peeps of Middle Earth

Middle Earth is the fictional setting of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It is a land populated by Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits (along with a sundry collection of monsters). Tolkien’s books tell of a diverse coalition battling for good against evil.

Those of us engaging in our own political fight against the evils of two-party political domination often feel much like Tolkien’s characters. The fight has been difficult, but we have become encouraged by the fact that those willing to join our coalition seem to be growing.

A recent Gallup poll indicated that 62% of US adults say the major parties “do such a poor job representing the American people that a third party is needed”. This observation is congruent with the fact that more Americans now self-identify as Independents (42%) than as either Republicans (28%) or Democrats (28%).

These polling results suggest that the country is ripe for a robust alternative to the two major parties. The problem, as we might suspect, is rooted in the structural inertia of our deeply entrenched duopoly. A recent article in the Economist points out that Americans are more likely to change their religious denomination than their political party. An additional problem, Lee Drutman suggests, is that a significant fraction of disaffected voters want a third party more liberal than Democrats or more conservative than Republicans.

This still leaves a large number of peeps who believe in the fight, willing to abandon wasted-vote worries, put aside apathy, and devote time, energy, and votes to changing the political landscape. If you wonder who we are, what we worry about, and what we want … read on.

Who Are We?

• The perennially disaffected.
  We have been so disgusted by two-party politics that we rarely even vote.
• Disaffected Democrats and Republicans.
  We’ve been faithful voters, though sometimes voting independently. We can no longer stomach the direction both major parties have taken.
• Independent voters.
  We have always been willing to split-ticket vote. What we want is more than two choices.
• Electoral reformists.
  We believe the only way forward is through structural electoral reforms. Neither major party has electoral reform on their policy agendas.
• Early adopters.
  We know that getting an alternative party off the ground will be challenging. But for the sake of the country, we’re committed to trying.

What Are We Worried About?

• Future of our democratic republic.
  We fear that the current dysfunctional state of politics fundamentally threatens our form of government. The rise of illiberal forces on both the left and the right are deeply troubling.
• Dangers of long-term one-party rule in Texas.
  When one political party has a chokehold on statewide positions, only the small minority of voters who participate in primaries effectively choose statewide leadership. This is not a recipe for a durable democracy.
• Acrimonious discourse that currently passes for political debate.
  The level of vitriol and hatred that passes for public debate is tearing the country apart, poisoning relationships between fellow citizens and providing a damaging example for our children and grandchildren.

What Do We Want?

• Structural electoral reforms that would enable significant numbers of independent and alternative party candidates to be elected.
  Example reforms: ranked choice voting, ending gerrymandering, multi-member districts, fewer barriers to ballot access for independent and minor party candidates.
• Civil political discourse.
  Recognizing that good-faith consideration of diverse policy prescriptions provides both durable results and harmonious politics.
• Candidates who will put the interests of their constituents and the country first.
  Above the interests of any particular political party.
• Candidates who will be transparent.
  With their business dealings and conflicts of interest.
• Candidates who recognize that personal liberties and community interests are often in conflict.
  And who are willing to work toward reasonable compromises.
• Candidates who will work across partisan lines.
  To enact pragmatic common-sense solutions to problems.