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I am an Independent Conservative, meaning that no political party speaks for me 100%, and I believe in no political party 100%. I do, however, admire The Constitution Party and The American Conservative Party, but even with them I am not full-on sold-out. Nothing against them, to be sure. They're both fine organizations. I hope they succeed and their memberships swell. But I am not a member of either. Logic says I should be a member of the GOP, as I am a Conservative. I do not, however, support the GOP as I see it today . . . Could all of us, the Independent Conservatives, actually go to the GOP and remake it in the image of a True Conservative Party again? It seems risky.For those who advocate or have been duped by the duopolist ideology of the Democratic-Republican Party and fully embrace an infiltrationist strategy, the very idea of third party activism is an absurdity. The Cranky Conservative, for instance, argues that third party activism is the height of folly, concluding: "It’s agonizing to have to defend the current two-party system, but it’s even more agonizing to ponder the alternatives." The active support and defense of the ruling two-party state against one's better judgment is perhaps the most widespread effect of the utopianist delusion that the Republican and Democratic Parties represent anything other than the entrenched political establishment, that they are amenable to reform, that they can be "taken back" and that there is something of them worthy of being salvaged. There is no future in the politics of the Democratic-Republican Party. There is only the assertion that there is no alternative to the duopoly system of government and the political status quo.
The Only Alternative is All the Alternatives: Against the Democratic-Republican Global Warfare and Corporate Welfare State
The Democratic-Republican two-party establishment is the primary political organ of the reigning global warfare and corporate welfare state. As such, the Democratic and Republican Parties cannot adequately represent the interests of the people of the United States, indeed, the duopoly system of government forwards interests that are inimical to those of the people of the United States. Widespread recognition of this fact is evidenced by third party and independent activism across the political spectrum: the California Peace and Freedom Party has begun a campaign to create a unified party of the left; independent conservatives have renewed efforts in the Constitution and American Conservative Parties; centrist and moderate groups such as the Modern Whigs are stepping up their organizational activities. Currently, however, the third party debate seems to be most dynamic among conservatives. At Common Sense Citizen, Donald Borsch considers third party activism but is attracted to the idea of infiltrating the GOP:
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7 comments:
I read Cranky Con's article. He's worried that forming a conservative third party would weaken conservatism overall because it would lead to a more moderate Republican party as well as Democratic dominance against a divided right. He also thinks forming a third party means punishing "principled" conservatives who stay in the GOP. That doesn't follow, since the theoretical conservative party can cross-endorse such people, unless state laws forbid it, and invite voters to vote for the candidate on their line instead of the GOP line. In any event, the author succumbs to lesser-evilism: Democratic dominance during the time it would take for conservatives to overtake the Republicans is the Fate Worse Than Death for Cranky Con, who thus must resign himself to the slow Death of renewed Republican rule at best (from his perspective).
Another point I've seen a couple times now from GOP partisans is that conservative third party agitators are liberal Democrats who are trying to destroy the Republican Party. I'm going to post on that one soon.
He also thinks forming a third party means punishing "principled" conservatives who stay in the GOP. That doesn't follow, since the theoretical conservative party can cross-endorse such people, unless state laws forbid it,
As I said following that, if you're going to "cross-endorse," then why bother forming another party? You can't have it both ways. Either form a completely separate party with candidates in every district, or just openly admit what you are doing - reforming the GOP.
And as for me being a utopian - I'm not the one spending my days dreaming of a third party revolution that will never come. But have fun repeating the Michael Savage talking points and the .005% of the vote next year.
Paul: "Either form a completely separate party with candidates in every district, or just openly admit what you are doing - reforming the GOP."
This is a false choice generated by duopoly ideology. The point is not to replace a major party, as you seem to imply. The point is to change the dynamics and balance of power. Reforming the major parties is a pipe-dream. Their interests are diametrically opposed to the interests of the people of the United States.
As for "Michael Savage's talking points," well, that's just funny. Good luck with the lesser of two evils strategy. That one's got a proven track record.
Mr. Zummo is the one who's dreaming to the point of coma that his kind can control the Republican party. How many times over have conservatives had to take over the GOP again since the first time they took it over. Doesn't that tell you something? If you think it's still worth doing because the GOP remains the convenient shortcut to power, fine. It just seems like a waste of resources that drops you back to square one every few years -- not that that really bothers me, but I'm trying to be objective here.
This is a false choice generated by duopoly ideology
I'd be less inclined to accuse you of falling back on talking points if you can write one paragraph without resorting to same word over and over again.
Good luck with the lesser of two evils strategy. That one's got a proven track record.
Actually it kind of does, as witnessed in 1980 and 1994 (short-lived, but more successful than you give credit for).
Look, all I'm seeing from this site is the same whining I hear from conservatives all the time. You act as though there aren't any conservatives left in the GOP. That's simply absurd. Granted, I still think the leadership is incompetent, but that's different from being statist. You whine and mope all you want and pretend you're going to lead some third party revolution, but you're not. Wake the hell up and work with those of us that aren't daydreaming about something that will never ever happen as long as this remains a constitutional republic. We all desire the same thing, so let's elect the candidates that are going to get the job done, and stop pretending the only way is to work outside the current party system. You're not getting anywhere with this, no matter how deeply you want to drink from the river of denial.
Unlike many others, I write my own talking points, rather than regurgitate those that are fed to us by the political establishment and their mouthpieces in the media.
"You act as though there aren't any conservatives left in the GOP." I've never said there are no conservatives left in the GOP, rather I argue that the Republican Party does not stand for republican or conservative values, indeed, that the Republican Party is hostile to such values: the interests of the Republican Party are virtually diametrically opposed to the interests of conservatives who support them, because the Republican Party is served by the status quo. The same critique holds for the Democratic Party with respect to liberal progressives.
If you think the major parties can be reformed, you are daydreaming. Of course, the illusion that they can be reformed is necessary for the reproduction of their stranglehold on political power in the United States. As Reagan said, government is the problem not the solution. The Republican and Democratic Parties are part of the problem that is government. To work within the two party system is to become part of that problem and exacerbate it. To work within the two party system is to be defeated by it from the outset. The choice is simple: declare your political independence from the Democratic and Republican Parties or continue to be subjugated by them.
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