What If The U.S. Was A Multi-Party Democracy?

by Nancy Ohanian

The NY Times had a fun 20 question quiz yesterday that would help you identify-- based on your policy stands-- which of 6 political parties you would belong to in an American multi-party system. Lee Drutman didn't include the Pirate Party. He explained that "Each party represents a different portion of the electorate, not only ideologically but also by economic class and political engagement. There is no 'center' party here. That is because there are very few voters in the middle across all issues. Many readers who consider themselves centrist might also think of themselves as socially liberal/fiscally moderate or socially moderate/fiscally conservative. They will find a home in either the New Liberal Party or the Growth and Opportunity Party."

These are the six, from the neo-Nazi Christian Conservative Party all the way across the spectrum to the Progressive Party.These are my interpretations and they're somewhat different from Drutman's, which are below. From furthest right to furthest left:

Christian Conservative Party- extreme right fascist party-- enemies of democracy and anti-patriotic; exactly what today's GOP either already is or is headed towards.

Growth and Opportunity Party- the old GOP + the Republican wing of the Democratic Party; more conservative than fascist

Patriot Party- right of center xenophobic populist Know NothingParty

New Liberal Party- slightly left of center, basically today's Democratic Party

American Labor Party- a somewhat better version of the New Liberal Party

Progressive Party- the only decent party. It's "focused on equity and racial justice, with a strong vision of inclusive social democracy. Its strongest support comes from politically engaged, highly educated younger people, especially women. Its potential leaders include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren or Julián Castro. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 14 percent of the electorate." Julián Castro Castro is a progressive? That's a new one on me. These are the demographics:

• Has a college degree- 43%

• "Born again"- 11%

• Female- 60%

• Earns over $100k- 25%

• Follows the news- 66%

• White- 64%

• Black- 13%

• Hispanic- 13%

• Northeast- 20%

• Midwest- 21%

• South- 34%

• West- 25%

The American Labor Party is focused on economic populism, with an appeal to working-class Democrats who don’t have college degrees and don’t follow politics closely. It is more moderate on social and cultural issues compared with the Progressive Party, but also more diverse, appealing to many working-class Hispanics.

Its potential leaders include Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester and Tim Ryan. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 12 percent of the electorate.

• Has a college degree- 15%

• "Born again"- 30%

• Female- 60%

• Earns over $100k- 9%

• Follows the news- 31%

• White- 49%

• Black- 21%

• Hispanic- 25%

• Northeast- 17%

• Midwest- 22%

• South- 39%

• West- 22%

The New Liberal Party is the professional-class establishment wing of the Democratic Party. Members are cosmopolitan in their social and racial views but more pro-business and more likely to see the wealthy as innovators.

Its potential leaders include Pete Buttigieg, Cory Booker, Eric Garcetti and Beto O’Rourke. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 26 percent of the electorate.

• Has a college degree- 32%

• "Born again"- 18%

• Female- 55%

• Earns over $100k- 19%

• Follows the news- 50%

• White- 50%

• Black- 20%

• Hispanic- 20%

• Northeast- 20%

• Midwest- 19%

• South- 38%

• West- 24%

The Patriot Party is the party of Donald Trump’s 2016 primary campaign: the coalition of the small town, white working-class Americans who feel left behind by globalism and condescended to by cosmopolitanism. It is economically populist and strongly anti-immigration. Its strongest support among lower-income conservatives comes from exurban America.

Its potential leaders include Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton and Tucker Carlson. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 14 percent of the electorate.

• Has a college degree- 18%

• "Born again"- 36%

• Female- 55%

• Earns over $100k- 12%

• Follows the news- 46%

• White- 77%

• Black- 6%

• Hispanic- 10%

• Northeast- 18%

• Midwest- 21%

• South- 45%

• West- 17%

The Growth and Opportunity Party is the socially moderate, pro-business wing of the Republican Party. It is the heir to the old moderate “Rockefeller Republican,” the East Coast wing of the G.O.P.

Its potential leaders include Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker, Mitt Romney, John Kasich and Michael Bloomberg. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 14 percent of the electorate.

• Has a college degree- 30%

• "Born again"- 27%

• Female- 47%

• Earns over $100k- 25%

• Follows the news- 46%

• White- 67%

• Black- 6%

• Hispanic- 20%

• Northeast- 17%

• Midwest- 22%

• South- 35%

• West- 26%

The Christian Conservative Party is focused centrally on issues of religious liberty and morality, with very limited government. It will find stronger support among the most politically engaged and affluent, especially men.

Its potential leaders include Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Mike Pompeo. Based on data from the Democracy Fund’s VOTER survey, this party would be the best fit for about 20 percent of the electorate.

• Has a college degree- 32%

• "Born again"- 46%

• Female- 38%

• Earns over $100k- 25%

• Follows the news- 64%

• White- 75%

• Black- 6%

• Hispanic- 14%

• Northeast- 16%

• Midwest- 21%

• South- 40%

• West- 23%

This is how The Times interpreted my responses to their questions:

Did you notice that the 3 "left of center" parties have 52% support and the 3 "right of center" parties have 48% report? Also, the biggest party on the right is the fascist party, whereas the biggest party on the left, according to Drutman, is the relatively conservative New Liberal Party. Now, what if there were only 4 political parties-- and they were all followers of mine on Twitter?