4. The role of the Internet isn’t clear. Growing up amidst the techno-utopianism of dot-com era Silicon Valley has made me suspicious of all arguments of the form “The Internet -> ??? -> Political revolution!” In this case, it’s not clear to me that the Internet is as disruptive a force as Fournier implies. While it could help challengers organize, it also facilitates the flow of small-donor donations to the major parties and rewards scale in building the computational infrastructure of cutting-edge campaigns.
5. A weak economy makes institutions seem like they’re not working. As the political scientist James Stimson has shown, trust in government and approval of all the major institutions of government tends to track with the state of the economy. It shouldn’t be surprising that people are dissatisfied with the parties, but we should expect that dissatisfaction to dissipate if and when the economy improves. The same thing happened in the 1990s—as the economy improved during President Clinton’s time in office, the Reform Party fizzled.
Again, we don’t know what will happen, but I wouldn’t bet against the parties—and journalists shouldn’t either without more evidence to the contrary.
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I see this headline about the Polk Award just below Brendan Nyhan's new piece of advice to professional journalists. Nyhan would have more credibility in giving journalistic advice if he finally admitted he was wrong about the importance of the Romney 47% story.
http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/47_percent_story_wins_a_polk_a.php
#1 Posted by Harris Meyer, CJR on Tue 19 Feb 2013 at 12:46 PM
ONLY a third party has the way to change the political two party monopoly of BIG MONEY, corporate domination, meager tax increases and allegiance to the spin in both liberal and conservative knee jerks.
We need a genuine progressive movement. THE ONLY TIME American politics has changed is when a third party has managed to push the two parties.
#2 Posted by Bill Du Bois, CJR on Tue 19 Feb 2013 at 04:01 PM
I love, LOVE with a deep burning ardor and abiding respect, that Brendan has incorporated the Underpants Gnomes' business plan into his analysis. South Park rules!
#3 Posted by RobC, CJR on Tue 19 Feb 2013 at 04:18 PM
The real reason journalists focus on third parties is because they're idiots who think the solution to every problem is 'more choice', without having defined what the problem is.
We know the political process is broken. We know that one party won't do ideas and actions supported by science and popular will. We know they want to cut the essential programs economically crippled Americans depend upon
#4 Posted by Rock Denim, CJR on Fri 22 Feb 2013 at 06:20 AM
Another great article bro!
@BillDuBois: There was no third party pressure to change American politics during the Gingrich Revolution.
#5 Posted by JP, CJR on Fri 22 Feb 2013 at 03:11 PM