I would like to initiate a topic about replacing the Democratic & Republican Parties with a Non-Partisan Constituency party. Presently the country is in the throes of a Civil War where half of the country disagrees to the point of hatred with the other half. All politicians of either the Democratic or the Republican Party at the local, state & national levels spend all of there time refutting whatever a member of the opposite Party is trying to initiate. No time is ever spent doing what their constituents want or need. A new Constituency Party would have fixed terms, thus no waste of time will be spent during their terms to be re-elected instead of doing what elections are for: to get representatives to do just that: Represent their constituents 100% of the time.

One main problem will be the vehement penchant both the Democrats & the Republicans have for mud slinging. Anyone who would want to vanguard the Constituency Party would be attacked by those two horrible groups. They would seek out your past: Like jay walking, or college drinking parties, just to hide who you really are today, long after you moved on from those early endeavors.

Just think of what this idea means! It is long over due!

Edit - minor edit to correct spelling errors in title - JW

This post has been edited by JohnWho: Nov 7 2007, 04:38 PM

Perhaps it's naive of me but it seems no matter who is voted for, person or party, in every single Country we have the same woes. Drat!

How about a 'simple' party? One where the moment the candidates don't live up to their promises they are ousted - poof! And without massive severance pay or retirement pay, etc.

This reminds me of the story about Margaret Thatcher being asked about the possibility of having the traffic reverse lanes so that they would be like they are in America, she thought for a moment and replied "no problem, we can have the lorries switch lanes first thing Monday morning".

If only there was a solution that was as simple for politics, but there isn't. Independent parties have been trying to lead the country in a different direction for close to two centuries, the problem is getting the voters to elect them. If you want to tackle some of our larger problems how about getting rid of the electoral college, or putting some serious spending limits on candidates for the presidency as it's beginning to look like the only way to run for this office is if you have serious money. The Republican party will require $30,000.00 in primary fees just for the right to run as a representative of their party. How about going after Congress and have them vote on one item without tacking on any other agendas in order to get the votes needed to pass what was really being voted on, heck...we can't even control this on a state level.

As for our country being in the throes of a civil war, sorry bud, but that dog ain't gonna hunt. We aren't even close to what is defined as civil war, if you want to see an example of what the dictionary defines as a civil war look at what is happening in Iraq or Africa.

While not necessarily a third party, the Unity08 folks are somewhat trying to do what is suggested here.

At a minimum they are trying to highlight the problems with the present two party system.

I do agree, but I believe we need to have a party based on the CONSTITUTION of the United States. We have our "leaders" slowly but surely giving our freedoms and choices away to the international courts and to the U.N. On our soil the COnstitution is the law and should never play second fiddle to any other institution in the world. We need a grass roots approach to the politics of America. The power in this government was given by GOD to the people, and we the people have lent it to our representatives, but they have turned on us and think we serve them instead of them serving us. To avoid complete collapse of our country we need to take control back and start locally.

What we need is for a good educational system. We need all sources of information to be non-partisan and to report only facts, this would breka the ties that bind and leave people to vote for a belief, not a party.

I don't get the whole thing with the presidential elections: one election, that's all. "Elimination" elections to narrow it down to 2, one from each party, is what keeps enhancing the need to dedicate yourself to one party.
If we just had one vote, people would actually have to research the candidates beyond whether "they are an ass or if they crap all over this circus of a world" (A Glunny original).

This post has been edited by Glunny Wootness: Nov 16 2007, 05:29 PM

The only problem with having one election is the matter of majority. While it would be possible for a plurality to occur, having an actual majority would be tremendously difficult. Having primary elections allow people to reconcile within their party, allowing for a majority in which most of the people would be satisfied.

America doesn't need a new political party; American voters need a new head.

George Washington said: political parties are a bane to the Republic and Liberty.

Allan

Well said. The average American probably wouldn't vote if they had to research every candidate. Parties make things easier for the people, which leads to more participation.

Parties may make things all-too-easy for the people.
Z

That's the only way they'll take it.

Some interesting concepts in government/politics in USA. Voters actually need very little information about candidates because all candidates after being elected to office are required to do the same thing. The one thing all elected Officials are required by the Constitution to do is take its Oath of Office. Elected officials cannot be properly seated in office if they refuse to take that Oath.

So the voter needs only to decide, or guess, if the candidate will honor the Oath of office. The voter actually has no other choice because any other choice would be changing the Constitution and citizens cannot change the Constitution.

If a candidate is an incumbent the voter’s guess work is virtually eliminated, simply view the incumbent’s voting record to determine if the Oath was violated. The preservation of the Republic and Liberty require voters to vote not to reelect any incumbent that has dishonored the Constitution’s Oath of Office.

The amount of information and study to become an informed voter is huge. A knowledgeable voter must have a workable knowledge of the Constitution. A workable knowledge of the Constitution requires most mere mortals a five year study. For those mere mortals to become expert on the Constitution usually requires a fifteen year study.

Allan

Excellently stated, Allan.
15 years - great mandatory class to offer through public education.