I think I see the disconnect. You're thinking Duverger's law means that even 15% is unattainable. I saw Johnson polling in double digits...and he's not a particularly good candidate to be nice; so I would argue that I do think it's possible. From there, I'm not really sure how else you're applying it; maybe that the two parties won't see the need to include a fringe idea when they're certain to be the only two parties. I'd point to Bernie's Universal Healthcare as a "fringe" policy that was normalized simply by being introduced to a large segment of the population and forcing a different discourse though.
I'm saying that based on what we have, I just dont see it being possible and even if it were possible, voting third parties just helps the opposing team even more. They win when one side is fractured.
IF there is an actual third party, its in liberals best interest that it be right wingers to fracture their votes. Third party left wingers are disastrous politics.
And Bernie hasn't done dikk about universal healthcare. Whatever he did can be traced to Hillary in the 90s. Lets not give him credit for piggy-backing on the HARD FOUGHT GAINS OBAMA DID. That shyt wasn't easy and a lot of republicans lost their seats because of it. Just making it out to be some easy-peasy off handed shyt is disrespectful and frankly deceitful.
