You went automatically to the third party conclusion, not me.
What I wrote in a related thread:
When I talk about rejecting this national political system, its not because I am naive enough to believe that a glorious peoples revolution is just around the corner. It's not that I think that we're on the verge of a massive, nation-wide movement to end this corporatocacy and reinstate a truly representative democracy. I'm not necessarily optimistic about that.
What I want though, is for people to stop making excuses for this failed national system, and both the parties that comprise it. Yes, I know this is Democratic Underground and I realy appreciate that so far I still get to post here. I used to be a Democrat when I first started reading here so long ago, but I'm not anymore. And yet I still care about the people - many good, amazing people who identify as Democrats. I feel that the system has failed, but there are countless ordinary Americans identifying as Democrats who are full of passionate commitment to social and economic justice. That's why I still want to participate in this community.
What I want is for people to accept that this system has failed, and put their hope and efforts into other places besides Washington politics and party politics. Maybe for some that will mean speaking out and trying to organize real movements. That's wonderful. But in other cases I think it just means refocusing from the national stage to the community stage.
In cities and municipalities, in counties and states - this is where real battles are being fought and won - yes won! - but those who put the needs of poor and working class individuals and families first. National politics is not going to save us, especially not in this system which has failed. But grassroots efforts absolutely make a difference. My best friend hasn't paid an once of attention to the last six months of health care wrangling in Washington. But as program coordinator for the Community Housing Alliance of Cincinnati, she has busted her ass to get people into safe housing and off the streets, to organize and lobby city hall and state government to change polices to put the needs of the poor first - and she's won tangible victories that have translated into substantive change for real people, and changed policy in Cincinnati.
Progressive have desired living wage law at the federal level for ages, but also dismiss that desire as nothing but a pipe dream - something that will never happen in that failed system. And yet today over one hundred and twenty cities and municipalities have passed living wage laws all over this country, with more votes on the horizon. And a lot of people who can't do anything of impact the failed system in Washington have pour time and energy into these efforts and seen victory.
Washington corporatism and its influence that has poisoned both parties will not get us where we need to be. It has killed the national political system. It has failed ordinary Americans and appears to beyond hope of saving from the inside. I think we should consider focusing on our own communities, our own neighborhoods and schools, our own counties and our own states - places where we can walk up to elective officials and look them right in the eye - because I believe that grassroots level is where change happens. And I believe if there is ever to be any hope of saving our failed national poltical system, it won't come from the top-down, or by just reelecting the same Democrats over and over. I believe it will come from the bottom up, as we pour our energy into our communities and watch the fruits of our labor grow and expand.