OGCM - Oak Guild Institute

If you have time this week, please read/watch/listen to the following:

* "Party systems" - Basic primer on two-, multi-, and single-party political systems and what causes them to emerge around the world from Britannica
* "Why US elections only give you two choices"- ~10-minute video from Vox
* "Can a Third Party Succeed?" an episode of the podcast series You Might Be Right that features Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist.

This is a free event. Food and drink may be purchased separately. 

We suggest a $5 donation for those who are not members of OGI. 
(You may choose to opt out of Zeffy fee on the next page by selecting "other.")

Salon Admission

Why are Americans so frequently faced with just two viable presidential candidates? And is that a problem — or a benefit? Except for a few exceptions, two major political parties have won, on average, <a href="https://democracyjournal.org/magazine/70/giving-minor-parties-a-chance/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">98%</a> of all state and federal seats in the US. There have been instances — with 2024 being one striking example — when a sizable proportion of voters express a desire for a third option. A third party has been competitive with the two major parties in a few rare cases, even replacing one of the major parties when the new Republican party garnered more votes than the "Know Nothing" party in the 1856 election. But there are a number of reasons why third parties face a difficult road in presidential races, from the winner-take-all voting system to campaign finance and ballot laws, lack of media coverage, and more. In our May salon, we'll take a historic look at why third parties have risen and fallen in past elections, and what factors are still making it difficult today for a candidate from neither the Democratic or Republican parties to stand a chance. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of other nations' political systems that have more parties but also potentially more complexity in voting and leadership decision-making.  <div style="text-align:left;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit">If you have time before the salon, please read/watch/listen to the following:</div><ul><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-party/Party-systems" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;font-weight:700" target="_blank">Party systems</a>" - Basic primer on two-, multi-, and single-party political systems and what causes them to emerge around the world from Britannica</li><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqWwV3xk9Qk" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">Why US elections only give you two choices</a>"- ~10-minute video from Vox</li><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-a-third-party-candidate-succeed/id1642334178?i=1000645162928" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">Can a Third Party Succeed?</a>" an episode of the podcast series You Might Be Right that features Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist.</li></ul><div style="text-align:left;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit">As always, our pre-salon material is optional, but recommended!</div><div style="text-align:left;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit"> </div><p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Date/Time: <p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">May 18 at 10:45 am (optional 9:15 am hike before)<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> <p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Location: <p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Rossotti's Alpine Inn <p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">3915 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028<p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(59, 63, 68);font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a href="https://www.alpineinnpv.com/" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204);text-decoration:underline;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">https://www.alpineinnpv.com/</a><div style="text-align:left;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit"> Suggested donation of $5 for those who are not members of OGI.</div>

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{lastname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">Last name, We are grateful you want to join in our salon discussion about third party presidential candidates! Date/Time: May 18 at 10:45 am (optional 9:15 am hike before) Location: Rossotti's Alpine Inn 3915 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028https://www.alpineinnpv.com/ As always, our pre-salon material is optional, but recommended: <ul><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-party/Party-systems" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">Party systems</a>" - Basic primer on two-, multi-, and single-party political systems and what causes them to emerge around the world from Britannica</li><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqWwV3xk9Qk" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">Why US elections only give you two choices</a>"- ~10-minute video from Vox</li><li style="text-align:left;box-sizing:inherit">"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-a-third-party-candidate-succeed/id1642334178?i=1000645162928" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit" target="_blank">Can a Third Party Succeed?</a>" an episode of the podcast series You Might Be Right that features Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist.</li></ul> See you there!Jake, Katie, and Kateadmin<a href="mailto:team@oakguild.org" style="color:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit">@oakguild.org</a>

Why are Americans so frequently faced with just two viable presidential candidates? And is that a problem — or a benefit? Except for a few exceptions, two major political parties have won, on average, <a href="https://democracyjournal.org/magazine/70/giving-minor-parties-a-chance/" target="_blank">98%</a> of all state and federal seats in the US. There have been instances — with 2024 being one striking example — when a sizable proportion of voters express a desire for a third option. A third party has been competitive with the two major parties in a few rare cases, even replacing one of the major parties when the new Republican party garnered more votes than the "Know Nothing" party in the 1856 election. But there are a number of reasons why third parties face a difficult road in presidential races, from the winner-take-all voting system to campaign finance and ballot laws, lack of media coverage, and more. In our May salon, we'll take a historic look at why third parties have risen and fallen in past elections, and what factors are still making it difficult today for a candidate from neither the Democratic or Republican parties to stand a chance. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of other nations' political systems that have more parties but also potentially more complexity in voting and leadership decision-making.  <div>If you have time before the salon, please read/watch/listen to the following:</div><ul><li>"<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-party/Party-systems" target="_blank">Party systems</a>" - Basic primer on two-, multi-, and single-party political systems and what causes them to emerge around the world from Britannica</li><li>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqWwV3xk9Qk" target="_blank">Why US elections only give you two choices</a>"- ~10-minute video from Vox</li><li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-a-third-party-candidate-succeed/id1642334178?i=1000645162928" target="_blank">Can a Third Party Succeed?</a>" an episode of the podcast series You Might Be Right that features Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist.</li></ul><div>As always, our pre-salon material is optional, but recommended!</div><div> </div><p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">Date/Time: <p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">May 18 at 10:45 am (optional 9:15 am hike before)<p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%"> <p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">Location: <p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">Rossotti's Alpine Inn <p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%">3915 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028<p style="margin:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;max-width:100%"><a href="https://www.alpineinnpv.com/" target="_blank">https://www.alpineinnpv.com/</a><div> Suggested donation of $5 for those who are not members of OGI.</div>