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Is It Time For A New Political Party?

For almost 150 years, the President of the United States has been from one of two political groups--the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. People from other parties have been allowed to run for President. So have independent candidates, who belong to no political party. But the two-party system has ruled American politics for a very long time.

Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire who ran as an independent candidate for President in 1992, says Americans want more choices. They are tired, he says, of how both parties waste the government's money. Last week he announced that he was working to create a third political party to compete in the 1996 presidential election. The new party will be "owned by the people," says Perot.

Would Americans vote for a third-party candidate? Perot and his supporters think so, but they'll have to work hard to make it happen. Most states require thousands of signatures before they will put a third-party candidate on the election ballot. Third-party candidates must also raise a lot of money to compete with the Republicans and the Democrats. Both of these parties are well organized, with big piggy banks.

Third-party candidates have done pretty well in some presidential elections. In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt captured 27.4% of the vote when he ran as a candidate of the Progressive, or Bull Moose, Party. The party got its name after Roosevelt said, "I feel as strong as a bull moose." Other third parties were named after their new ideas for government. The Free Soil Party wanted to keep slavery from spreading.

Many people say if a third party is created, Colin Powell might run as its presidential candidate. "It is something I would consider," says Powell, who was once the top U.S. Army general. Or maybe Perot himself will make another run for the White House.

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