American politics have, for many years, been a topic of contention and great tension. Since Donald Trump’s controversial campaign and election, however, it seems that the intensity and frequency of political disagreements has been increasing at an alarming rate. No matter where you find yourself, you’re sure to find someone debating politics, with the end result being looks of disgust, or even violence. 

Since 1852, our nation has been dominated by a two party system. Naturally, this causes excessive factionalizing and inhibits compromise. More than that, it is creating an environment of dissension at a time when what we need most in order to make meaningful change is unity. This can be felt by many, according to an April 2019 OpEd for the New York Times titled, “Is America Hopelessly Polarized, or Just Allergic to Politics?” by Samara Klar, Yanna Krupnikov and John Barry Ryan, “As we head into the 2020 presidential campaign, a striking 91 percent of people said in a recent PRRI survey that the country is divided over politics.” It might feel like I’m beating a dead horse here, but it’s important to note just how extensive this feeling of political self-segregation is. It extends throughout every facet of our lives; in our schools, workplaces, public spaces and even homes.

This is where the utility of third parties becomes apparent. By offering a diversity of ideas and solutions, third parties would serve to breathe some fresh air into America’s arid political landscape. This goes hand in hand with the compromise that we are in desperate need of. When it seems that legislature has reached gridlock, a more impartial voice of reason from a third party is the grease needed to get the cogs moving.

In a January 2019 OpEd for The Hill by Rachel Kleinfield titled, “Want a third party? Think again” the author notes that, “By siphoning off centrist voters, it would leave the Republican Party and the Democratic Party competing for the remaining disaffected citizens by moving further to the extremes, further deepening our dire polarization.” This seems to be a misconception of the role third parties are intended to serve. The views of the two major “third parties” in the United States are far more radical than those of the establishmentarian Democrats and Republicans. Thus, it doesn’t seem rational to refer to them as big-tent parties, and worry that they’ll behave like them. Third parties can offer opportunities for compromise and national growth that would otherwise be unattainable. To the voting public: do yourselves a favor, let third parties help you help yourself.