Why is there no American Populist Party?

[Al B. Sure!]

Polls done over the years seem to generally indicate that that vast majority of Americans are socially conservative and economic liberals (though still more right-wing than europeans). I don't think this is in dispute (if it is, say why you don't believe this).

Amazingly, though, the two American parties are socially and economic conservatives or both liberal, so neither party fully represents the American people. As a result, both parties are pitted fanatically against each other with some crazy partisanship...

Now it seems to me that any Populist party would be guarenteed a majority but there hasn't been one since the turn of the century. Even when you take a look at third parties, from libertarians to greens, no party is socially conservative and economically liberal. Why is this?

I got a feeling that its the whole crabs in a barrel mindset that ruined the populist party in the 19th century... poor southern whites refused to vote for the party that was open to poor blacks, even though they supported populism in almost every other regard. Are the lower classes in america so pitted against each other that any union creating a populist party would fail?

(Albert Speer thinks there should be a ANP in the BNP's style but without its racism)


thanks

[Spiffor]

Well, it has to do with the fact that many of the socially conservative + economic liberals don't have trust in politics, or belong to the poorer classes who generally tends to distrust / not care about politics.

I suppose small populist parties do exist in the US, but they have no chance to become middle-sized or big for the same reason a really left-wing party can't hope for it either : the electoral law is made in such a way that only 2 big parties can compete. As long as you'll keep your electoral system, no major different party will emerge, except if one of Republocrats do a real major blunder (like burning American cities)

[I Am Jeff]

There used to be a populist party, a long time ago.

[monolith94]

A truly populist party would be both fiscally and socially liberal.

[DanS]

.

[Al B. Sure!]

Monolith:

how would it possibly be socially liberal? the Populists of the late 19th century were very socially conservative and were made up of born again Christians, prohibitionists, southernors, etc.

and anyway, even still... that dont answer why there is not even a minor party representing social conservatism and economic liberalism... if the majority of Americans fit that belief system, why would there be no party representing that? Why aren't either the Republicans or the Democrats that? If one did become like that, they would be assured victories in elections


thanks

[St Leo]

Ignoring the Bush administration, how exactly aren't Republicans socially conservative and fiscally anarchic?

[Al B. Sure!]

St Leo:

my bad... by economic liberal i meant liberal in the American sense of moderate capitalist a la the Democratic party. so capitalism with some welfare state ideas...

[Whaleboy]

Possibly because parts of America, like the PNAC, are obsessed with America showing leftist tendencies, especially since the end of the cold war, when I visited, the people I talked to seemed to me to be pretty paranoid about it.

I think it would be a good idea to have a new party, but ideally, I'd like to see a liberal party in America, one that is much closer to the original principles of that nations foundations, than the current crop of parties or indeed popular views in America that would no doubt cause the founding fathers to be spinning in thier graves.

[Gangerolf]

Why is there no American Populist Party?

because of the electoral system?

[Whaleboy]

because of the electoral system?

[Zero]

Populist just aint popular no mo

[Sava]

in reference to some of the Bush comments in this thread... the man is by no means a real conservative. His massive spending and increase in government power, plus his anti-free-market protectionist policies fly in the face of everything conservative. That's why so many former Bush supporters are becoming alienated. His socially "conservative" policies aren't necessarily conservative. Their more authoritarian. Believe it or not, but I come from a socially conservative family. It's just that I was raised that imposing MY social beliefs on someone is wrong.

Anyways... there are people out there that would fall in line with "Populist" ideals. The fact is, the system is designed for two parties. There should be more. A two-party system is anti-democratic. America is a very diverse nation, it's a shame that politically, everything is channeled into two choices. And sometimes, both choices end up doing the same thing anyways. No wonder so many Americans don't vote. There aren't parties that support what average Americans believe in. Washington is a colleciton of America's Elite... bickering amongst each other, often times dragging the people into their petty disputes.

[Whaleboy]

I think its free market when its either not interfering in a bad way, or helping out business. Double standards alarm is ringing yet again.

[Lancer]

"socially conservative and economic liberals"

nationalist socialist?