New third party seeks to help us meet in the middle

The left thinks the right is too far right, and the right thinks the left is too far left. What about trying to meet in the middle? Or is there no more middle ground on issues like abortion, gun safety, voting rights and climate change? A new party seeks to find out. Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, along with former New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman, has formed what is called the Forward Party to provide voters an alternative to the far-left democrats and far-right republicans. It seeks to provide another choice at the ballot box to today’s two dominant political parties. Americans are hungry for more choices, according to a 2021 poll which finds 62% of Americans think the country needs a third party. Traditionally third parties struggle to be relevant, or even to get on the ballot. But Yang’s Forward Party is something to consider. They don’t, so far, take specific stances on specific issues, but do endorse non-partisan redistricting, open primaries and ranked-choice voting. The party says its guiding principles include working together, not against, less talking and more listening and encouraging diverse thinking. There isn’t much of any of that in politics today, and it sure would be refreshing.