ARGUING YES
Andrew Yang
Founder of the Forward Party; Former Presidential Candidate
ARGUING NO
Daniel DiSalvo
Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute; Political Science Professor at City College of New York–CUNY
MODERATOR
John Donvan
Host and Moderator-in-Chief
This week:
- Taking another look at third parties: Is our political system broken because of the two-party system?
- A closer look at Americans’ desire for a third party
- Dr. Helen Fisher’s legacy: We remember the debates of Helen Fisher, a profound thinker on the mysteries of life and love
- Your Sunday reading list
For a critical election year, this has been an interesting summer. The Democratic and Republican National Conventions have each concluded and now, we have Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as each party’s candidates, respectively. Recently, third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who many swing voters saw as a potential candidate capable of bucking the two-party system, ended his presidential run, bringing up an important question: If voters get tired of voting for the primary parties, is a third-party president possible in our future, even if around fifty independent or third-party seated politicians are currently serving at the state level?
A former presidential candidate and a political science researcher take the stage in this debate. Arguing in favor of third parties is Andrew Yang, who previously ran in the 2020 presidential election and the 2021 New York City mayoral campaign. Now, Yang is at the helm of the centrist Forward Party, which has ballot access in five states. He says our two-party system is not working and a growing number of Americans believe adding a third party is needed.
Arguing against third parties is City College of New York-CUNY professor and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Daniel DiSalvo. DiSalvo has published three books on public policy and research on political parties and elections in the U.S. He says our two-party system is powerful for a reason; it permits a fair amount of choice and change to occur.
In light of the current political polarization and the 28% of Americans who had expressed dissatisfaction with a Trump/Biden rematch, does America need a third party? What would voters want in a third-party candidate? Listen to the debate now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and our website. As always, let us know what you think.
DEBATING THE DATA
What Is Causing Americans To Want A New Political Party?
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Does America Need A Third Party?
YES: Andrew Yang
“We have a system right now that’s giving virtually none of us what we want. Imagine a third-party movement that has hundreds of elected officials, mayors, county executives, school board members, [and] state reps saying, ‘You know what? I actually want to listen to the people I represent, not the party machine. I want a functional political system that actually listens to me, my family members, and community members. I would like to see our system advance and evolve.’”
NO: Daniel DiSalvo
“Our current system has many defects but maintains many virtues as well, including our two-party system. There’s a certain impatience today that wants to have a third party or wants to reform the political system. But I think the United States government is much more responsive and delivers better, certainly in comparative perspective to other European nations or other rich nations around the world.”
Remembering Helen Fisher, Anthropologist of Love
We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Dr. Helen Fisher, a beloved friend and esteemed colleague. Helen’s contributions, especially her profound discussions on the nature of love and the impact of modern technology on our relationships, have left an indelible mark on Open to Debate. Helen was a beacon of insight and empathy, whose work challenged us to understanding one of the greatest mysteries of the world: love. Her passionate arguments on whether true love is a myth and if dating apps have killed romance remain among our most thought-provoking discussions, and we encourage you to revisit her wisdom and ideas. Helen’s legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched, both personally and professionally. We offer our deepest condolences to her husband, John Tierney, and the Fisher family.
WEEKLY POINTS OF VIEW
What I Want a University President to Say About Campus Protests
Bret Stephens | August 20, 2024
The New York Times
Watch Bret’s debate on whether anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism
Anti-Abortion Crusaders Have a New Way to Keep the Question Away From Voters
Mary Ziegler | August 26, 2024
Slate
Watch Mary’s debate on whether it’s right to end Roe v. Wade
Allison Schrager | August 27, 2024
City Journal
Watch Allison’s debate on whether we should address the gender wage gap
The US Treasury’s Backdoor Stimulus Is Hampering the Fed
Nouriel Roubini and Stephen Miran | August 20, 2024
Project Syndicate
Watch Nouriel’s debate on whether big government is stifling the American spirit
Make America Open to Debate
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