Millennials Should Break the Cycle of Alternating Political Parties

For the last century control of the United States has cycled between the 19th Century Democratic and Republican parties.  Voters choose between the old ideas of the Democratic Party and the old ideas of the Republican Party.    The two parties are mired in the same old partisan conflicts election after election. The Democrats in particular seem more interested in playing partisan political games than in dealing seriously with the nation's problems.  Republicans are increasingly following their example.

Millennials need to decide whether they want to continue the politics of their grandparents' generation or replace the 19th Century parties with 21st Century parties. 

President Donald Trump has compared Washington to a swamp.  One of the most unpleasant aspects of swamps is stagnant water due to a lack of fresh water flowing into the swamp to  push the stagnant water out.   Washington is a swamp because of a lack of new ideas.  New parties could bring new ideas to Washington and the rest of country like fresh water entering a swamp.

Replacing a political party can take a couple of elections.  Thus, Congressional candidates, as well as candidates for other offices, need to remind voters that even if the third party candidate doesn't win this year, voters will be telling the "outdated parties" that voters want new options.   A strong finish will make it easier for the candidate to run again or encourage a  replacement    In districts in which there  is no third party candidate, Millenials might get together and agree to support one of their number to run as a write in candidate.

At the national level the party out of power is easiest to replace because it has fewer entrenched incumbents.   Thus, third party candidates running for Congress should say they are THE alternative to the Republicans regardless of which party the incumbent in that district belongs to. 

Voters a century ago had negative attitudes toward the major parties.   Voters began voting for third party candidates.   The effort didn't replace either party, but the third parties did force changes in the actions of the parties.   Major changes included direct election of Senators and giving women the right to vote