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At first I supported the Republican Party, though never becoming an official member. They had a conservative platform that most closely matched my beliefs. Then it became evident to me that the GOP was corrupt, systemically, and irretrievably corrupt. So I looked for a third party I could support . . .
Eventually I've come to understand why George Washington warned us against all political parties. The problem isn't that it's the wrong political party, the problem is that it is a political party . . . They, by their very nature are a corrupting influence on the individuals who run under their banners. They are manipulative, power hungry organizations. Parties are not about the people, they are about their own power. Even the underdog parties are about their own power and the desire to force all of America to their way of thinking . . .
There are several organizations making efforts to change the way we select our candidates for office. They are trying to do away with parties altogether. I hope that by the time my twelve-year-old is ready to cast his first ballot, he will be voting for an individual and not a party. My favorite process proposal is GOOOH, or Get Out Of Our House.
People over Parties: A Declaraction of Independence
At Proper Role of Government, Michelle Copher makes an independent conservative case against political parties as such, and suggests consideration of the GOOH (Get Out of Our House!) process proposal:
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4 comments:
When it comes to politics as usual, there isn't a dime's worth of difference between the donkeys and the elephants.
I agree that parties are bound to be corrupt at some point, but i've heard some say that we need to abolish the Electoral College before we can ever hope for a non-two-party member president. It's unlikely that the two-party majority congress will ever give up their power and abolish the electoral college too.
This brings us to a grass-roots-like campaign to elect non two-party members (third party candidates or independents) to local offices so that they can influence a state initiative, which moves forward to the federal level.
I'm all for it. Is there other ways to inject non two-party members into congress? I'm looking for easier options! hahah
Anon, the bottom up approach is definitely key, focusing on local and state government, and US House seats. The fixation on the presidency is a distraction fostered by the cult of the executive, and, imo, reveals the authoritarian tendencies of both Republicans and Democrats.
Those who say we cannot elect anyone but Republicans and Democrats until x, y and z reforms are implemented ignore the fact that the only change which actually needs to take place is in our voting habits.
d,
Spot-on about the encouragement for local folks to get involved in local politics as the means to really affect our Nation.
I totally concur. Sure, being elected First Selectman or Mayor of a small town doesn't seem so glamorous as Senator, Governor, or President, but consider the effects a person could really have being "one of our own" in a smaller town, looking out for that town's best interests.
Besides, you gotta start somewhere, yeah? Might as well be in Hometown, USA.
No doubt, Donald. I liked the piece Rich V. (I think) wrote at the Firestorm a couple days back on this very topic, which I excerpted. Another point in this regard, which was made recently by a Green from MA, is that in elections for local and state level office the incumbent Democrat or Republican simply goes unchallenged and so stays in office by nothing other than inertia. It is not uncommon in NY for more voters to vote "Blank" than for an unchallenged state representative. Obviously though, "blank" is never seated and so the incumbent keeps the office.
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