I used to believe that the two party system was ideal for the American People and
American Government as a whole. It allowed individuals to align themselves closest to the political party for which held their beliefs. “The first major political division between the
Federalists and Antifederalists established a precedent that continued over time and ultimately resulted in the domination of the two party system.” 1
This two party system hold so much power that the democrats and republicans make it nearly impossible for these groups to have any sense of sustainability. “Because third parties normally do not win elections, Americans tend not to vote for them or contribute to their campaigns, so they continue not to win.” 2 Because both parties know that the threat a third party is almost nonexistent, they tend to have different approaches to how they handle third party diversions from their bases. The whole idea of politics has become a game of party power and control rather than support for the American people. While the democrats have an embracing approach to third party distractors of their base, republicans have taken the approach of distancing themselves from them. This whole game is an attempt to attract the high percentage of independent voters. In that in the last 15 years, the differences between the two parties have become so minuscule that it is hard to tell them apart. This is supported by the fact that in “2014, fully 42 percent of the electorate claimed to independent.” 3 The Identity of American voters in both parties is at all time low, Democrats 31%, and Republicans 25%.4
While I do not believe that we are about to have a third party come into this election cycle, I do believe that we are seeing the American people starting to voice their disapproval of the two political parties. Currently Bernie Sanders, a self announced socialist, is gaining on
Hillary Clinton's lead for the democratic nomination. On the the republican side, the individuals that are leading the polls are all people who do not currently hold a political position within the party. Although the implications of a third party run could lead to party division and power being held by one group for a continued period of time, I personally am sick of what is happening in
Washington D.C. The current politicians care more about elections than the views of the
American people. I no longer make my vote by picking between the lesser of two evils. I vote on principles rather than party. To some that means that I am throwing my vote away or casting a vote for the other side, however I refuse to play the by the rules of their game. I gladly will welcome a third party run understanding the implications.

Sidlow, Edward, and Beth Henschen. "Chapter 7, Political Parties."
Govt: Principles of American
Government
. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2014. 159. Print.
2
Ibid, 164.
3
Ibid, 152.
4
Jones, Jeffrey M. "Record­High 42% of Americans Identify as Independents."
Gallup.com
. N.p., 8 Jan.
2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.
.
1