By Letters to the Editor
Published November 16th 2002 in New York Times
Below is a compilation of citizen commentaries apearing in the New York
Times defending IRV and third party competition in American elections.
Two Parties Won't Do
* To the Editor:
I take great exception to "A Third Party on the Right," by John J. Miller (Op-Ed, Nov. 16). Third-party candidates aren't responsible for electing Democrats or Republicans; the lousy politicians whom the two major parties keep giving us are at fault.
I hope that if Mr. Miller sincerely believes that third parties spoil elections, he will try to persuade both major parties to work toward changing the election system to one that includes instant runoff voting, in which voters rank the candidates in order of preference.
Even without a new voting system, I will continue to vote for the candidate who best represents my views, rather than the lesser of two evils.
PEGGY KOTEEN
San Luis Obispo, Calif., Nov. 18, 2002
* To the Editor:
With Democrats and Republicans running so closely in so many places and turnouts rarely passing 50 percent, why don't both parties stop bullying the voices of actual ideas and conviction ("A Third Party on the Right," Op-Ed, Nov. 16)? Instead of denouncing the 1 to 3 percent of voters who so threaten them, they should try listening.
Votes for Democrats and Republicans have robbed this country of meaningful debate and politics we can believe in. If you are upset by the determined mediocrity of the major candidates, look in the mirror and next time vote for a third (or fourth or fifth) party. Let's have a real democracy!
ERIC ROSENBLOOM
Kirby, Vt., Nov. 16, 2002
* To the Editor:
Re "A Third Party on the Right" (Op-Ed, Nov. 16): If the Republican Party really believed its rhetoric about getting the government off the backs of the people, there would be no need for the Libertarian Party.
STEPHEN BOATTI
Bronx, Nov. 16, 2002
Two Parties Won't Do
* To the Editor:
I take great exception to "A Third Party on the Right," by John J. Miller (Op-Ed, Nov. 16). Third-party candidates aren't responsible for electing Democrats or Republicans; the lousy politicians whom the two major parties keep giving us are at fault.
I hope that if Mr. Miller sincerely believes that third parties spoil elections, he will try to persuade both major parties to work toward changing the election system to one that includes instant runoff voting, in which voters rank the candidates in order of preference.
Even without a new voting system, I will continue to vote for the candidate who best represents my views, rather than the lesser of two evils.
PEGGY KOTEEN
San Luis Obispo, Calif., Nov. 18, 2002
* To the Editor:
With Democrats and Republicans running so closely in so many places and turnouts rarely passing 50 percent, why don't both parties stop bullying the voices of actual ideas and conviction ("A Third Party on the Right," Op-Ed, Nov. 16)? Instead of denouncing the 1 to 3 percent of voters who so threaten them, they should try listening.
Votes for Democrats and Republicans have robbed this country of meaningful debate and politics we can believe in. If you are upset by the determined mediocrity of the major candidates, look in the mirror and next time vote for a third (or fourth or fifth) party. Let's have a real democracy!
ERIC ROSENBLOOM
Kirby, Vt., Nov. 16, 2002
* To the Editor:
Re "A Third Party on the Right" (Op-Ed, Nov. 16): If the Republican Party really believed its rhetoric about getting the government off the backs of the people, there would be no need for the Libertarian Party.
STEPHEN BOATTI
Bronx, Nov. 16, 2002
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.