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OT and disclosure: As my FDL profile announces, I came to the ‘political’ scene quite late in life. As I’ve read and learned from the denizens of the Lake, I must acknowledge my naivete and express to the many bloggers and commenters my appreciation for aiding my learning curve.
At the Lake, I’ve observed ardent (or more-or-less ardent) supporters of Obama. I’ve seen a broader swath of participants who express either disappointment, or a sense of outright betrayal. There are some who revile the President. As we turn our eye toward the election, I’ve seen those who will vote for a Republican rather than for Obama. I’ve seen those who say they will hold their nose and vote for Obama. I’ve seen a few who—disgusted with our two-party corruption—look to a savior like Ron Paul, and fill discussion singing his praises. I’ve seen those who say they will vote, leaving the top-of-the-ticket blank. I’ve seen those who will write-in a name—ANY name. And finally, I’ve seen those who have lamented that they will not vote at all.
My question: have any of you politically astute pups looked at 3rd party organizations—like AmericansElect.org—that are trying to change the status quo? I have yet to look at Bill McKibben’s NoLabels site, but apparently it may be something similar. It appears that AmericansElect is trying to organize on-line, discerning the most representative candidates from the participants. IOW, changing how 3rd parties become viable quickly, rather than through years of ’ground-up, grassroots activism’ seems to be needed. Any input, discussion, education, links, etc. from my fellow FDLers would be greatly appreciated.
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There are quite a few here who promote the Green Party. I’m leery of them (perhaps unfairly) because of Nader.
I like Rocky Anderson’s Justice Party so far. He’s just starting out so won’t be a contender against Obama, but he seems so far to be a good alternative for a write in.
I think you’ll find the discussion about 3rd parties making its way to the forefront here. I think you’ll also find that the people here at the Lake lean more to the real left than most other sites and that the Lake’s readers are sick and tired of the status quo and not particularly enthused about neoliberalism’s solutions to modern problems.
Currently there is some discussion, in its infancy, about the Green Party (Jill Stein), the Socialist Party USA (Stewart Alexander) and the Justice Party (Rocky Anderson). The more the 2 party system fails in dealing with the economic and political disasters we face the more that discussion will heat up.
The Socialists have been around a lot longer than the others and have their principles and goals set out. The Green and Justice parties are still learning to walk, so to speak, so their agendas are still in the formative stage. Many here are following these parties but at the moment there’s not a lot out there that we can wrap our heads around.
There is also a discussion about capitalism as an economic system taking place at the Lake.
You’ve come at a great time. It’s a wonderful learning experience. The most important thing, imo, is patience. None of this is going to change overnight and we must be willing to join the struggle for the long term.
As I posted in reply to you at PUAC, just be aware that the founders and organizers of “America Elects” are a bunch of centrist, corporatists who feel that the current two parties are not centrist/corporatist enough.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72739.html#ixzz1m58PLHvp” rel=”nofollow”>Wiki
Time Magazine: Can well-heeled insiders create a populist third party sensation?
LA Times:
So IMNSVHO, all America Elects does is look for a ‘third way’ to maintain the status quo.
As far as any other 3rd parties, the TradMed will probably not give enough airtime to any that would change things in a useful fashion. Even one like America Elects has a difficult time getting any publicity and they are the status quo on steroids.
While many will disagree, I still believe the best option is an insurgency movement within the existing parties. While it is a lot of hard work, it is less work than trying to get a 3rd party off the ground.
Either way though, it is a process that will and does take multiple election cycles. Remember that it took 16 years for the right wing from the Goldwater loss to Reagan’s election. And another 30 years to reach the current craziness. It took the DLC and “third way” Dems 20 years from the McGovern loss to Bill Clinton.
All this has meant is there is a Center/Right party with a platform that is still mildly leftist and a Bat-shit crazy party that keeps going further off the cliff
I guess I’m hoping some of the FDL erudite can give me a short-cut–and perhaps there IS no short-cut. Maybe it’s just that as age increases, and we recognize we have less and less time to ‘make a difference,’ we want our actions to count. And ground-up activism is exceedingly slow. Still, an interim solution is to at least have a name to write-in (as opposed to Mickey Mouse or George Washington).
I know the Ron Paul-ers have their talking points down pat; but I can’t go that way. I’ve seen/heard both Rocky Anderson and that Louisiana (former) governor who ‘make sense’ with their 15 minutes on the teevee machine. But then, again, when I first heard of Paul, he sounded pretty good, too. When I discovered his CORE beliefs, and they are antithetical to mine (bigotry & hatred, for starters), I recognize that perhaps I am not only naive but exceedingly gullible. Once bitten, twice burned leaves one skeptical about any would-be leaders.
Dakine–
Again, I thank you. This is the sort of information that a neophyte needs.
With limited financial resources, and a true deficit in comprehending our current political system . . . and the historical ins and outs of how we got here . . . I would prefer those with expertise to point me in the right (correct) direction, rather than explore untold numbers of dead-end paths before encountering the Eureka! moment.
SD–
You state: “The most important thing, imo, is patience.” I’m sure that is probably the BEST advice I can receive. But you know how a former smoker becomes the zealot for anti-smoking propaganda, that’s kind of how I feel politically. Now that I’ve DISCOVERED the importance of ‘politics’ and citizen participation, I want to jump in, do something, make a difference, proselytize . . . be somehow assured that NOW I get it and am on the right track. [Note to self: Breathe deep, and take some of the advice I asked for.]
I’ve been an activist since the early 70s. I’m a Marxist. I’m still at it. Cesar Chavez built the United Farm Workers, in his words, “one person at a time.” Be active and absorb as much knowledge about “the system” as you can. Learn what ideologies are in play and how they work, what their beliefs and agendas are. It’s time well spent.
For me, there is Darcy Richardson for President if you think the democrats can be reformed (I don’t), Jill Stein and the Greens, Rocky Anderson and the Justice Party, and the New Progressive Alliance just because I like the NPA.
There may well be others. All are so new or inexperienced that they may not have much of an impact in 2012, but hope for the future lies in long term building of these or other organizations. A critical obstacle we face is third parties tend to spend a large part of their effort in attacking each other rather than the two party duopoly we should all be fighting.
I heard someone (pardon my memory lapses) promoting their agenda (don’t know if it was Green, Justice, NPA, etc.) to coalesce around a goal to unseat 50 House Democrats and 50 House Republicans (all incumbents) to illustrate a strength of purpose. When 94% of incumbents are re-elected, that seems like a rather ambitious goal . . . but if it were attainable, would it change incumbents to once again consider the needs of their constituents instead of their own personal/political agenda?
And one of the concerns I have, with limited ‘discretionary’ funds–how do I choose where to put my money. FDL membership–for the educational/community gap it fills–is at the top of my contributions list. But with each organization soliciting financial support . . . I just don’t have enough to go around.
Choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Andrew Harvey in his book “The Hope” suggested find what breaks your heart the most and then find an organization that is helping. Like you, there are far more good causes than I have the money or time to support so I make an emotional decision.