Letter to the Editor
Two parties
Published Monday, July 7, 2008
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Stumble It!July 2, 2008
To the editor:
I am sick of parties. Not fun social gatherings, but the ridiculous notion that there are two major groups out there who have all the answers to our problems. Except only one of them is ever right.
“Republicans suck.” “Democrats can’t get anything right.” “Republicans are stuck in the past and Democrats are the way of the future.” Whatever happened to being an American citizen?
What happened to the idea that you vote for someone who shares your interests? Why do we even have parties when they can’t maintain a consistent party line?
McCain labels himself as a maverick. That’s fine. Just don’t run as a Republican if you don’t agree with everything they do. If there’s one thing Britain got right, it’s the fact that they have three major parties and a multitude of smaller parties that are important swing votes. We need viable third or fourth options.
We need more cooperation in the halls of Congress, now more than ever. In the words of Dave Mustaine, “The system has failed!”
Community Discussion
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In the past, 3rd parties have made a difference in this country. Nader took votes from Gore in Florida in 2000. Perot took votes from Bush 41 in 1992. While it's not the same as members of Parliament from different parties uniting for power, the result is similar (a shift in balance of power).
Britain seems to do well under their system. But look at Italy. They have a multitude of parties, and rarely a stable government. The same can be seen in some of the countries previously dominated by the USSR.
Or we could go the other way. A one party system. No messy democracy involved. No loud public debate. Elections are efficient. Like Cuba. Or Iran. Or Zimbabwe (which had an opposition party but they were killed).
Ours isn't perfect. But despite it's flaws, and corrupted politicians, it seems to struggle along, affording us a nation unparaleled in history.
I'll stick with it. Oh, and I forgot to mention, no one requires anybody to vote the party line (except maybe in Chicago).
glacierles,. One other place that people are generally required to vote the party line: Congress.
Years ago Joe Walsh (the only member of the Eagles who is even remotely cool) ran for president under the Continuous Party. I think that's where Bill Clinton got the idea.
If we were allowed to vote "no" on an entire slate of candidates, then the parties might reform themselves, but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
i thought don henley wasn't too shabby.
TAC---
I dont think that I'd like that plan to vote on an entire slate of candidates. Believe it or not, I do still sometimes vote for Democrats. Not often, but sometimes.
What I'd like to see is closed primaries. Not just here, but across the nation. Even though I've done it (back when I was a Dem), I think that it is wrong to vote the other party's ballot in order to support their worst candidate. And it happens all of the time on both sides with open primaries.
Admittedly, with closed primaries, the candidates would woo the party activists, and be either more liberal or more conservative. I dont think that that's a bad thing. And after a good whupping or two, the parties would figure out to offer up better candidates, hopefully not talking out both sides of their mouth to appease both sides.
OK, it's a fantasy.
Henley was good.
I go with George Washington, dissolve All political parties. They have been the death of this nation.
I'm tired of hearing "so are you Republican or Democrat". I'm neither! Is it so strange for someone to actually look at and vote based entirely on the candidate and thier views? NOT the views of thier "party" ?
Isanova---
Fellow on the other comment section about ANWR wants to take away my freedom of speech. You would like to take away my freedom of association. Half the country would like to take away my freedom to bear arms. All in the name of progress and just getting along.
"...dissolve All political parties. They have been the death of this nation." I must have missed the obituary.
And while Washington indeed was against political parties, the two party tradition goes back almost as far. Washington was the consensus of the people. The next President, Adams, wasn't. Nor has there ever been another consensus of the people like Washington.
Finally, the two party system has been able to produce some great leaders. Even back in the old days, with the smoke filled back rooms.
The parties are two wings of the same bird. Or garbage of the same can. Don't you think that it is odd that McInsane is the nominee of the Republican Party when most of the republicans hate him. Do you know anybody that support McCain?Me neither. To me, it's looks like froud.
Strange how, even though there are many political parties in this country, the writer of this letter somehow assumes everyone is either for one or the other of the biggest two.
I believe the biggest mistake anyone can make while voting is to "make their vote count" by selecting either the Rep or Dem candidate. THIS is what the big parties count on, and what the media condones when it denies smaller party candidates access to major debates and coverage.
There is a huge movement to a third party going on right now; I urge everyone to read the following website and, (if you agree with its premise that the only way to give the country back to the people is by re-establishing constitutional law), join and vote accordingly.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/
Especially in Alaska, we should understand and endorse this platform. Remember, to make your vote count, you must first vote for what you truly believe, not against what you feel is offensive.
Henley sucks. Dr. C knows best.
We know the Executive Branch under King Pinocchio(pathological liar) and Shotgun Cheney(shotgunned his buddy while intoxicated) is infested with Neo Con Parasites.. But the Congress is equally corrupted with legalized Conflict of Interest and Collusion by people beiong paid with American Taxpayer dollars and with financial interests in conglomerates and corporations they're passing laws on.
They're prostituting their votes to pass laws, regulations and deregulations to financially benefit theirselves and their Corporate Johns along with legally shielding themselves.
Together they're yanking hundreds of billions of American Taxpayer dollars away from programs, especially programs benefitting the vast majority of Americans and instead giving the same monies to the rich and super rich comprising of 11-21% of Americans.. Taxation Without Representation.
I recall we had American Revolutionary War against a King George, his Mercenary Armies and the few Americans called Tories.. Because of Taxation Without Representation.
We have now another King George with his many signing statements putting hisslelf above the law and accountable to no one, especially the Congress, and the 11-21% of Americans who are comprised of Neo Con Parasites, Republican Mushrooms and the Religious Idiots.
With the Neo Con United States Supreme Court Justices in place to re-interpret the same United States Constitution the whitemans Founding Fathers fought and died for.. To reflect and legalize the Neo Con philosophies, ideals, policies and actions that're supported by 11-21% of Americans..
Revolution anyone?
The two major parties disagree with each other when it suits them, but will always support each other when it comes to restrictions on other political parties.
Unless and until we get a different voting system in place (instead of plurality voting) I don't think there's any chance for a real multi-party system. Condorcet's method (a type of multiple head-to-head ranking system) is best, in my opinion.
Of course, if the government didn't have nearly as much power as it does, then it wouldn't be as much of an issue, either.
Ha Ha The Executive and Legislative Branches are giving the hundreds of billions of American Taxpayer dollars to the 1-5% of Americans comprising of the rich and super rich.
DenaliGuy-
As usual, I agree with you.
Thanks for that website. The Walter John Williams articles are excellent. I bookmarked it so I can go back easily and read some more.
I am so sick of everyone being brainwashed with the notion that to vote one's conscience, to actually vote for someone instead of holding the nose to vote against someone determined to be worse, is a "wasted" vote.
It is the reverse, in my view. I voted for Ron Paul in 1988 I think it was, and if I can, I'll vote for him again. Plus, there are other decent--better than the pre-decided choice of the two--folks/parties out there.
Don't blame me, I've never voted R or D in a presidential election.
And I have to keep explaining it to my kids; and will continue to do so. I don't want them to be mass-media influenced voting robots.
Please, if you don't know what's going on,
DON'T VOTE.
This nonsense about everbody should vote or be ashamed or something... Well, everybody should be an educated voter or stay home, IMO. Everybody should vote their conscience rather than the hold-your-nose mentality--which is exactly what the power-mongers/opinion-makers want people to do, and want people to believe it's a wasted vote to vote third party.
Is it Treasonous if the News media is owned by Israel? Everyone of them are owned by Israeli entities, individuals or Jewish individuals so they are dictating what is printed or allowed on the air. FOX, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and CNN is paid with the billions of American Taxpayer dollars given them each year by the Neo Con infested Executive and the equally Collusion challenged Legislative Branch. So King Pinocchio(Pathological Liar) and Shotgun Cheney(Shotgunned his buddy while intoxicated) spent anywhere from 16-80 billion dollars for the Neo Con News Media to spew out propaganda promoting the Neo Con ideals and actions and to refuse to print any negative news of the Neo Cons.
Our policy is dictated by the Secret Energy Task force Meeting between Cheney and the CEO's of the Neo Con owned Oil and Energy Conglomerates.
After which we had the California Energy Crisis when the Californians paid billions of dollars to the Texas Neo Con owned Oil and Energy Conglomerates in the deliberate manufactured Crisis.
After which the attempted coup of the Democratically elected Venezuelan gov't in order to wrest control of the Venezuelan oilfields over to the Neo Con owned oil and Energy Conglomerates.
After which we had the Iraqi Civil War Debacle where we now find out the same Neo Con owned Oil and Energy Conglomerates now have ownership of the Iraqi Oilfields in a country with no ties to 9/11.
Together the Neo Con Parasites infesting the Executive Branch and the equally Conflict of Interest and Collusion challenged Republican, Democratic and Independent Legislators are Gutting, Usurping and Crapping on the same United States Constitution and Bill of Rights the white mans Founding Fathers fought and died for.. To pass laws, regulations and deregulations to directly and indirectly financially benefits theirselves and their Corporate Johns and to legally shield themselves.
Together they are yanking hundreds of billions of American Taxpayer dollars from programs, especially social programs that benefits the vast majority of American Citizens and instead is giving the same monies to the rich and super rich who comprise 1-5% of Americans. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!
I recall we had a American Revolutionary War because of Taxation Without Representation against a King George, his hired Mercenary Armies and the few Americans called Tories..
We have again, another King George, with his many signing statements putting hisself above the law, and accountable to no one, including the Congress, and his Neo Con Cronies Mercenary Armies masquerading as "Contractors", and the 11-21% of Americans consisting of fellow Neo Con Parasites, Republican Mushrooms and the Religious Idiots.
Revolution anyone?
Call it Treason but I didn't spend all the time in the military to see our country hijacked by Neo Nazis. No offense to the military but if any disagree they probabely spent their time burning the barrels they pull out from under the outhouses.
Yep call it Treason as my brother calls it but common sense dictates we go after who attacked us before going after long range threats.
We know the 9/11 hijackers were all Saudi Arabian and Egyptian and were trained and ordered from in Afghanistan.
So why did we not send the 160,000 American Troops over to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Worldwide to root out Bin Laden and al-Qaeda instead of being bogged down in another Vietnam?
It seems everything spewing from the Israeli Neo Con owned and operated News Media Conglomerates is designed to divide our people instead of bringing us together.
The lies, deceit and manipulated intelligence is there to be reported on, but the 16-80 billion American dollars spent on propaganda makes it impossible to make an informed decision.
The easier for the Neo Con United States Supreme Court Justices to re-interpret the United States Constitution to reflect and legalize the Neo Con ideals, policies and actions that 11-21% of Americans support.
Curt, you need a beer. . . you sound overwrought.
I'm pretty disillusioned about the two parties too, but I'm surprised lately that I'm feeling more optimistic about rational discourse-- letters to the editor and even long ranting comments on the website. Maybe by thinking well and discussing and articulating ideas we can convince politicians (and voters, and even parties) to change? Maybe we could occasionally get someone onto the ballot that isn't a megalomaniac? Maybe even the process of debate and dissent during the election could refine and improve the policy of whoever does get elected?
Bumper stickers or pickets like "The road to hell is paved with Republicans" won't change anyone's mind, but maybe articulate discourse might.
I think that no mater how many parties we have a canidate should win with over fifty percent of the vote. This would mean run off elections in some instances between the two parties that got the most votes. This should take place in local state and national elections. It would be interesting to see how many votes a third fourth or fifth party canidate would get under this system It would set people free to vote there first choice and to vote their second choice if a runoff election was needed.
glacierles: A shame, isn't it, that smoke-filled back-rooms produced a higher percentage of statesmen than our current primary/caucus system gives us. Of course, they also gave us bigger scoundrels as well.
You raise good points on freedom of association. The Supreme Court ruled on this some years back, saying parties could hold closed caucuses, and I felt that was the only constitutionally sound decision they could make on the issue. I couldn't vote in the presidential primary/caucus this year because I wasn't about to register with with either party.
That said, as an independent who can choose his ballot in the state primary, I take the ballot of my choice and vote for who I think would be the best candidate. I helped Sarah Palin whup Frank Murkowski's butt in '06, and I have yet to be unhappy about that. This year I'll vote for Sean Parnell, and hope he runs against Ethan Berkowitz (we don't need a rematch b/w Young & Benson).
As for Don Henley, I'll Quote the legendary Mojo Nixon:
He's a tortured artist
Used to be in the Eagles
Now he whines
Like a wounded beagle
Poet of despair!
Pumped up with hot air!
He's serious, pretentious
And I just don't care
Don Henley must die!
Don't let him get back together
With Glenn Frey!
Don Henley must die!
TAC---
Love the poem.
I put Parnell's bumper sticker in my car window today (I hate wearing stickers on my bumper post election).
It is your right not to register with a party. And I have no criticism of anyone that chooses that path. Now our friend, Corinne, whom I deeply admire for her intelligence, claims the right to be independent rather than affiliated with R or D. That is her right, also. But, I am always disappointed when I see those "Dont Blame Me, I voted for..." bumper stickers. You can vote for all of the Ron Pauls in the world. Perot. Nader. Kermit the Frog. You might feel vindicated, but somebody else just elected your government. Sorry, but that is reality.
CurtJ---
Calm down, amigo. You are frothing at the mouth, onto your keyboard.
CurtJ,
Besides the rant, what are you on?
The two party system was first conceived by the devil. Think about it.
Bring back the whig party.
According to wiki: "Their name was chosen to echo the American Whigs of 1776, who fought for independence, and because "Whig" was then a widely recognized label of choice for people who saw themselves as opposing autocratic rule."
I think this label fits the intent of Mr. Nolan, plus it would be a sure-fire fashion statement. It would also single-handedly solve America's male pattern baldness epidemic. Again, think about it.
I too don't care for the party system. It should be vote for the best person, not the party. The way to do this in the system we have is be a nonpartisen.
The other way is for everyone to take turns. I don't mean in just term limits, but the idea that someone can be a congressman this term then be a senator next. It just seems the same people stay in and just change hats.
We need new blood and new ideas. The old ones are getting pretty ripe.
Political parties did not exist in 1789. Washington despised the idea of political associations, formed in such a way as to pit one group of citizens against another. In his farewell speech in 1796 he said,
"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
"However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincip